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for larger version       Taxing The Richest Never fear - - there's always tax money some place, somewhere, in somebody's pocket. Regrettably and incredibly, New York State Assembly Democrats led by Leader Sheldon Silver proposed last week to boost taxes. This, in the face of an economic slowdown and possibly even a recession. Leader Silver suggested a 3% tax on millionaires to balance Albany's bulging budget and widening deficit. Other insiders propose a cigarette hit; that is, an additional $1.50 per pack tax. I wonder how Rockaway's own Assemblywomen feel...are they on board to boost taxes, too? Far be it for Governor Spitzer or Assembly Democrats to propose 'a work out' in these leaner and harder times; that is, spending cuts. Not every morsel of Albany spending contributes to the greater good, no? Not every Legislative staff member, Governor aide or state employee provides indispensable service, 24/7, no? So, in the spirit of Assembly Democrat takings' may I propose three taxes myself - three assessments that are far, far cleaner and efficient to assess and collect. (#1) A flat 1.75% surcharge on NYC's 71 billionaires (the assessment to be only on their first billion). Let's see...1 billion dollars * 1.75% * 71 = $1.25 billion. A good start, n'est-ce pas?; and only 71 people to track down. (#2) Drilling deeper into that social strata, how about a 5% surcharge on NY's sports and entertainment double millionaires (those brite-lites earning more than $2 million, annually). There's got to be a few Yankee players and owners; a few TV, soap and talk show personalities; a few playwrights, authors and actors. Since so many of these people are so free with their opinions, won't they also be free with their checkbooks, too? Finally, and most seductively, how about a 10% surcharge on all courtadministered legal fees paid to New York's Tort Bar. After all, one of the principal reasons NY is the world's litigiousness capital is due to our Albany leaders' consistent sponsorship of legislation that fans classaction and tort claims. So now, I propose, some re-compensation to return up river. Just my thoughts, ideas and observations for Assemblywomen Pheffer and Titus to pull ourselves out of Governor Spitzer's spending quagmire.
PETER STUBBEN
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