I found out something very favorable for us and the toll fight. Skelos is on our side. I was told this yesterday by Senator Maziarz. And I also found out that the thruway authority got to Silver and Bruno, applied pressure and that is how the Bill got the brakes slammed on it.. The NYSTA does not want the tolls and the cash cow at the Grand Island Tolls taken away from them. So welcome aboard Senator Skelos.
Senator Skelos Reintroduces Himself to New York – June 30, 2008 – The New York Sun
Dean Skelos, who became the top Republican in Albany on Tuesday when Joseph Bruno announced his retirement, enters his first full week as the Senate’s majority leader with plans to reintroduce himself to state and city leaders. The 60-year-old Nassau County native has scheduled sit-down meetings with Governor Paterson, a Democrat whose relationship with Mr. Skelos is untested, and Mayor Bloomberg, an important financial contributor to the embattled Senate Republican
In a recent interview, Mr. Skelos spoke to The New York Sun about the divide between him and the Democratic speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, over property taxes, pressure on him to demonstrate his independence from interest groups, and his tastes in cinema, literature, and food.
Q: You talk about property taxes a lot. How do you give voters a reason to vote Republican when Governor Paterson seems to be stealing your thunder on your most important issue?
A: Ill be sitting down with Governor Paterson next week and open up the issue on real property tax relief … and how we can go about getting a result. If a cap is something that gets it, thats fine, subject to the will of the conference. … A cap is a 4% increase every year. People are looking for a reduction in their real property taxes.
Three-quarters of New Yorkers say they support a cap, according to a recent poll.
I understand that, but Shelly Silver has said no. If we go in and just pass it, then the papers are going to write, “Well, it didnt mean anything. They didnt get a result.” So the issue is how do we get the speaker and the Assembly to the table.
So the problem is Shelly right now?
He has said no to a cap, and he has not passed any of the Senate proposals, nor has he put anything out that would drive down property taxes.
What makes you different from Joseph Bruno in terms of policies you support and where you want to lead the Senate Republican conference?
Ill develop my own style. Joe was very successful over the years on numerous issues, and my focus right now, because its the no. 1 issue, is real property taxes … and economic development and the revitalization of upstate New York. Read More——–>>
