November 5, 2009. FPI, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, and a diverse group of statewide organizations joined forces to publicize the harmful impact of many of the governor's proposed cuts, and to urge the Legislature to look at less painful alternatives. Group press release >>
October 26, 2009. Testimony presented by James Parrott, Deputy Director and Chief Economist of FPI, to the Senate Finance Committee.
October 21, 2009. Testimony presented by Frank Mauro, Executive Director of FPI, and Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Mauro and Deutsch discussed why $1.8 billion of the $3 billion in deficit reduction actions proposed by Governor Paterson for the current state fiscal year would harm the still-fragile state economy. The Governor's other $1.2 billion in gap-closing recommendations together with additional actions that will not hurt the state economy should be used to ensure [...]
October 19, 2009. At a public forum hosted by Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro in Hopewell Junction, Frank Mauro of the Fiscal Policy Institute discussed the workings of New York State's current property tax system, and John Whiteley of the New York State Property Tax Reform Coalition discussed property tax relief and reform options for New York State. Watch the video >>
October 15, 2009. Statement from FPI Executive Director Frank Mauro.
May 26, 2009. A new study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities profiles the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in New York and Virginia. The experience of these two states suggests that the state fiscal assistance in the economic recovery legislation is having its intended effect: enabling states to balance their budgets with fewer cuts in public services that would harm residents and further slow the economy. The study is part of a special series of reports, Economic Recovery Watch.
May 21, 2009. Presented by chief economist James Parrott at the committee's public hearing on New York State's business tax reform. New York could have a more rational and fairer business tax system by adopting a rule to fix problems with the way multi-state corporate income is apportioned, by revamping its overly generous Investment Tax Credit, and by adjusting its taxation of unincorporated businesses. Testimony >>
May 7, 2009. Testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Civil Service and Labor and Committee on Contracts. "Contracting in" offers budget savings and efficiency while promoting better quality jobs for New Yorkers. To pursue these goals, the Council should consider reforms to the contracting process and decision-making.
April 22, 2009. The Omnibus Consortium (www.omnibustaxsolution.org) joined today with Senator Liz Krueger in support of her reform bill S.4239, calling for action by end of session. Press release >>
April 18, 2009. Something's slowing the plunge. It must be the billions in taxpayer bailouts. An op ed by James Parrott, Crain's New York Business.
March 27, 2009. The Omnibus Consortium (www.omnibustaxsolution.org) held a video press conference today to urge that this flawed program be replaced with a meaningful circuit breaker. Group press release >>
March 22, 2009. New York faces one of the largest budget deficits in the country for the coming year at $14.2 billion. The State's 2009-2010 fiscal year begins April 1, 2009. Two responses to addressing the crisis have dominated the policy debate. Both acknowledge the detrimental impact Wall Street revenue declines have had on the State's fiscal condition. But in other ways they diverge significantly. In the context of a deepening recession, which is the most sensible path to take? Press release (also below) Executive [...]
March 12, 2009. This testimony, presented by FPI executive director Frank Mauro to the New York State Senate Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform, includes a discussion of the Omnibus Tax Reform Bill. The goal of the bill: to restore fairness to taxation with both short term relief and long term solutions.
February 26, 2009. The National Association of County Administrators asked FPI's Frank Mauro and James Parrott to write the lead article for The Journal of County Administration, December 2008/February 2009. The article stresses that while the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides a significant lifeline to the states at a critical point in time, it will not completely eliminate the need for some painful budget balancing actions by state and local governments. The key challenge for the states is finding the mix of [...]
February 25, 2009. New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness and the Fiscal Policy Institute today praised Senator Jeffrey Klein's efforts to reform New York’s current inequitable tax system by increasing rates at the top of the income spectrum - adding, however, that the Senator's bill simply does not raise enough revenue to sufficiently offset the onerous budget cuts proposed by the Governor. Unfortunately, the middle income tax relief in this bill will not provide stimulus if spending cuts, are in effect, paying for those tax cuts. [...]