A cow follows Bob from Manhattan

The New York State Democratic Committee sent a costumed cow to Bob Straniere's campaign events this morning to protest his hypocritical position on taxes. During his time in the Assembly, Straniere voted for over $2 billion in new taxes - he even supported raising taxes on milk.

Straniere voted for massive tax increases

via a NY Dems press release;

Billion Dollar Bob: Republican Candidate Voted for Over $2 Billion in New Taxes

Straniere even supported raising the milk tax

Republican Bob Straniere is an expert at making promises he doesn't keep. While he continues to tell Staten Island and Brooklyn voters that he'll lower their taxes - his record says something to the contrary. During his time in the Assembly, Straniere voted for over $2 billion in new taxes.

Straniere voted against eliminating the state sales tax and against reducing property taxes. He also supported income and sales tax hikes, and even voted to raise the tax on milk.

"Not only has Bob Straniere voted for tax hikes that directly impacted Staten Island and Brooklyn voters, his new economic proposals blatantly ignore the needs of middle class families in his district," said Carly Lindauer, New York State Democratic Committee spokeswoman. "Voters in the 13th District cannot afford to send another out of touch Republican to Washington."

Billion Dollar Bob: Straniere's Voting History

FACT: Straniere voted against eliminating the state sales tax on clothing (which at the time would have amounted to a 4% discount). [SI Advance, 4/3/1997]

FACT: Straniere voted against reducing property taxes that would have provided homeowners with $650 million in relief. [SI Advance, 4/3/1997]

FACT: Straniere voted in favor of an income and sales tax hike, which amounted to $1.7 billion in new taxes, and even supported a 21-cent-per-gallon increased tax on milk. [SI Advance, 5/6/2003; 1/25/1998]

Overall, Straniere supported $2.35 billion in new taxes.

Vito Fossella's recent legislative votes

Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act, HR 5719
Vote Passed (238-179, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill intended to simplify the federal tax system.

Rep. Vito Fossella voted NO

Vito Fossella's recent legislative votes

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008, HR 5351
Vote Passed (236-182, 11 Not Voting)

The House voted to repeal certain tax deductions for oil and gas companies in order to pay for the extension of renewable energy and energy conservation tax credits for individuals.

Rep. Vito Fossella voted NO

Vito Fossella votes for middle class families to pay more taxes

First Fossella cries and bemoans Democrats for not passing a patch to the AMT only to vote against it two days later. It passed by the way, thanks to the Democrats he claimed were "dragging their feet."

Monday, December 10, via the Advance;

Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) issued a release today blasting House Democrats who are "dragging their feet" when it comes to passing the patch to the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Fossella cites that as a result of their not passing the patch, 23 million middle-class families will have to pay as much as $2,000 more in taxes next year and the 50 million Americans that are owed about $75 billion will have to wait an extra 10 weeks for their returns due to the delay.

Wednesday, December 12;
Rep. Vito Fossella voted AGAINST passing the AMT patch. This must mean that Vito Fossella wanted 23 million middle-class families to pay $2,000 more in taxes and wanted to delay tax returns for another ten weeks for 500 million Americans.

update
November 9;
Rep. Vito Fossella voted AGAINST HR 3996 the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007.

Vet Real Estate Tax Exemption

I came across this LTE and was rather unfamiliar with the topic, Vet Real Estate Tax Exemptions. It might be of use to someone out there or someone may be able to fill me in with some background on the issue;

Attention all military veteran homeowners:

The veterans' real estate tax exemption is heading for extinction. The
2007 veterans' real estate tax exemption decreased 27 percent.
Contacting local politicians, past and present, has proven futile.

Just remember those who did nothing as the veterans' real estate tax
exemption heads for zero.

Iraq once again way over budget

via CQPolitics;

The cost of war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the next fiscal year will likely exceed the $145.2 billion request the White House made in February.

via Rep. Vito Fossella's own press release, March, 2007;

Congressman Vito Fossella (R-NY13) today received the highest score in New York State – and ranked in the top 15% in the entire House of Representatives -- for his efforts to reduce taxes and limit government spending based on a review of 199 votes by a well-respected non-partisan taxpayer advocacy group.

snip

I believe Staten Island and Brooklyn residents are smarter at spending their money than the government and deserve to keep more of it to invest, save or buy a new computer, fix up their homes or go on a vacation.

Agreed. If only Rep. Vito Fossella would let us spend that $145+ billion on what the tax payers wanted instead of his ill gotten war he stubbornly refuses to back down from supporting. Fossella must believe the tax payers of Brooklyn and Staten Island would rather he waste spend their money for them.

You can not be fiscally conservative and support Rep. Vito Fossella.

Accountability in Contracting Act

Yesterday the House voted on the 'Accountability in Contracting Act' (HR 1362), which is somewhat lengthy but can be summed up as;

The legislation, reported by the Oversight and Armed Services Committees, changes federal acquisition law to require agencies to limit the use of abuse-prone contracts, to increase transparency and accountability in federal contracting, and to protect the integrity of the acquisition workforce.

* Section 101 limits the duration of no-bid contracts awarded in emergencies to one year to prevent abuse beyond the extent of the emergency
* Section 102 curbs this practice by requiring large federal agencies to develop and implement a plan to promote competition and minimize the use of noncompetitive contracts.
* Section 103 requires large federal agencies to develop and implement a plan to maximize the use of the efficient fixed-price contracts.
* requires public disclosure on why a no-bid contract was awarded within 14 or 30 days
*Section 202 promotes transparency in federal contracting by requiring that contract overcharges in excess of $10 million be disclosed to Congress by the Administration


And guess what, the bill passed 347-73, with Rep. Vito Fossella opposing this. Apparently his recent applause by the American Taxpayer's Union for his fiscal sensibility is really just a partisan joke. Otherwise how to do you explain voting against transparency, against closing loopholes for abuse, against public reports of how much we are being billed (taxes!). Of course Vito also served in a Republican majority that oversaw the largest deficit and debt accumulation. But don't just take my for it, here is Fossella contradicting himself;

“The key to sustaining long-term economic growth is to keep taxes low and to control spending. Too many families are struggling to make ends meet because high federal, state and city taxes are consuming as much as 50% of their paychecks. The American people work hard to earn their money and they shouldn’t be forced to hand over so much of it for the government to spend. I believe Staten Island and Brooklyn residents are smarter at spending their money than the government and deserve to keep more of it to invest, save or buy a new computer, fix up their homes or go on a vacation.” [March 7, 2007]

It is quite telling that over 100 Republicans crossed the aisle to vote for this, and to vote for controlled government spending, while Rep. Vito Fossella voted to support the President, once again. Once again Fossella is all talk and no action for this district.