President's Message |
We are in a nearly $6 billion dollar deficit. To close that gap the state is looking at steep cuts in Medicaid, underfunding our schools and local governments keeping the state at a 2% cap that is killing services. Meanwhile we continue to have historic wealth disparity while communities deal with severe budget and socioeconomic problems. Even when the economy is in recession or performing poorly, it is wrong to slash programs that help working families and those who are most needy. To be faced with these types of choices during one of the greatest periods of wealth in our history is inexcusable. We need to do better for our seniors, our children, those who are sick and those who need care. We need to do better for New York’s working families who are not sharing in the economic growth that seems to always flow up, but never down. We need to do more. New York needs to look at wealth taxes more closely and consider the billionaires tax and multi-millionaires’ tax, a stock buyback tax, the pied-a-tere tax or reinstating the banks tax. These are just some of the revenue raisers that would affect a tiny portion of individuals or businesses in our state but will help close the deficit without hurting our health care system and still help fund education, state services and our local governments. Poll after poll shows public support for these taxes. Now is the time to act. Mario Cilento, President |
Call To Action |
LABOR LOBBYISTS MEETING Monday, February 10, 2020, 1:00 p.m. 100 South Swan Street, Albany, NY FPI: BRIEFING ON THE STATE BUDGET Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 8:30 a.m. Huxley Theater, NYS Museum Cultural Education Center 222 Madison Ave., Albany, NY |
Issue of the Week |
This federation not only urges the legislature to reject these proposals, we urge passage of legislation that would protect all public-sector retiree health insurance from such cuts in the future. School district employees already have these protections and it is time we enact the same law for all other public-sector workers. Therefore, this Federation urges this bill be defeated. |