(Washington, D.C.) – The 55,000 members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) in New York today praised Governor George Pataki (R) for fighting against tax increases and wasteful spending by exercising 119 vetoes related to pork-barrel projects and tax increases in the five appropriation bills that make up the state legislature’s $93 billion budget.  CCAGW further expressed hope that legislators would not override the vetoes.

“Governor Pataki should be commended for cutting waste and rejecting the tax hikes included as part of this egregious budget plan,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “To pass a budget that contains tax increases during an economic downfall is fiscally irresponsible.  New York legislators need to develop a sound plan that will create jobs and help the state recover.  The best way to stimulate the economy is to cut state spending.  Legislators need to comb through the budget and eliminate wasteful, duplicative, and ineffective programs.”

On May 2, the legislature passed the $93 billion budget plan for the fiscal year that began a month earlier on April 1.  With the state facing a deficit of $11.5 billion, the Governor proposed freezing spending at last year’s level.  However, the legislature’s budget is $2.2 billion more than the Governor’s proposed $90.8 billion plan, and includes $200 million in pork projects.  To cover the costs of the increased spending, the budget proposes raising state sales and income taxes.  Despite Pataki’s vetoes of the tax increase, Democratic Assembly and Republican Senate leaders have pledged to override the vetoes, and appear to have the required two-thirds majority in each chamber to do so.

“In vetoing the taxes and wasteful spending, Governor Pataki has demonstrated a commitment to fiscal responsibility,” Schatz continued.  “Legislators should think twice before overriding the Governor’s vetoes.  Higher taxes and increased government spending simply throws more money into the bureaucratic black hole, creating a disastrous effect on the economy down the road.”

Instead, CCAGW reiterated its call for the creation of a state Grace Commission – modeled after former President Reagan's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control – to scour the state budget for waste, fraud, and abuse that can be eliminated.

“Hardworking New Yorkers deserve better,” Schatz concluded.  “In a time of deficits, the appropriate response should be to reign in spending, not to pass job-killing tax hikes.  Governor Pataki has taken a brave stand for fiscal discipline, and state lawmakers should follow suit.”

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.