Deputy Minority Leader Keith Hammond  596-9203 cell

 January 24, 2008

DEMOCRAT RESPONDS

TROY--Rensselaer County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Keith Hammond responded to today's GOP attack of Governor Spitzer's proposed state budget.

According to Hammond, "These claims are purely political, evidenced by the fact that no one from our side was notified of the press conference. "

"I have no faith in the figures they're using to back up their claims about the Governor's proposed budget.  I suspect they are as phony as their claim that 89 cents of every dollar goes to unfunded state mandates.  That makes for a nice sound bite but it is absolutely inaccurate and creates a false impression among taxpayers."

Hammond noted, "While the Governor's budget shifts costs, it remains to be seen how that will actually impact taxpayers.  On Wednesday, Governor Spitzer announced a bipartisan commission to look at the root causes of high property taxes with the goal of a property tax cap.  I applaud that kind of reform and encourage my GOP colleagues to lobby Senator Bruno for a spirit of cooperation, not confrontation."

According to Hammond, "By perpetuating politics as usual, Rensselaer County Republicans are failing taxpayers.  We need to look at doing business differently in New York State to benefit property taxpayers, as the Governor is attempting.  Let's see what the bipartisan Commission's May 15^th report on property tax cap reform suggests."

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