(Jessica Ramos Twitter)
Feb. 10, 2020 By Kristen Torres
Several Queens lawmakers joined officials from a prominent teachers union Monday to unveil results of a new poll that showed broad support for a proposed state-wide wealth tax.
An overwhelming majority of survey respondents—92 percent—supported new taxes on New York’s millionaires and billionaires as a way to cover the state’s budget deficit, which currently stands at $6.1 billion.
The survey, which was conducted by Hart Research Associates and based on the response of 1,000 registered New York voters, revealed widespread support for a wealth tax on New Yorkers with more than $1 billion, and for a new tax on residents with incomes of more than $5 million. The survey was released by the United Federation of Teachers.
Survey respondents also supported a pied-à-terre tax.
“We won’t be able to survive in New York if we don’t get the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes,” said State Senator Jessica Ramos in a tweet Monday.
Support for the new taxes spanned party lines, with 95 percent of Democrats, 87 percent of Republicans and 89 percent of unaffiliated voters backing the tax proposals, according to survey results.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson came out in support of higher taxes for the city’s ultra-rich, and said he’s fighting for a state budget that asks the wealthiest residents to pay their fair share.
“I’m in Albany…fighting for a fair budget that asks the wealthiest New Yorkers to kick in a little bit more,” Johnson tweeted Monday.
State Senator Michael Gianaris—who represents Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside/Woodside— also voiced his support for the proposed taxes on Monday.
“In a state and a city that has incredible wealth as well as incredible poverty, it seems fair to ask those who can afford it to help chip in more so that we can properly address some of these priorities,” Gianaris said.
The New York State United Teachers Union said the poll shows New Yorkers believe taxing the ultra-rich is the right way to make “significant investments in critical state services,” such as education, health care, public housing and transportation.
The NYSUT also said imposing a wealth tax on the more than 46,000 multimillionaires living in the state would generate more than $12 billion in revenue for the state.
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12 Comments
46,000 multimillionaires going to leave
In the eyes of the leftists “the fair share” is everything to cover their thoughtless waste of money.
In the eyes of people like COCED: I love America as long as I don’t have to financially support it or join the military to defend it.
If you scroll up you’ll learn more about why you’re completely wrong
Ok, but don’t be surprised when the rich move to Florida or other low-tax states and the tax base shrinks. Our brilliant politicians know so little of basic economics
What a bunch of geniuses. All this will do is increase, even more, the exodus of wealthy and successful people from this state. They are leaving in droves now.
what’s going to happens if the millionaires makes the decision to leave the state or move to another country there business will be the same they don’t need to be in the state to make money what ever amount they pay know will be missing think about that before make any move
How about cutting spending and implementing a balanced budget amendment instead of the idiotic bail reform !
New York has been losing population to places like Florida, Texas and Arizona. This is due to excessive taxation, onerous regulations and corrupt politicians. Confiscating additional taxes, even from the ultra wealthy, will do little to solve New York’s problems. More taxes will surely speed up exodus from the City and the State.
Jon – Low tax states like Alaska Wyoming, Louisiana Mississippi and West Virginia to name a few all low tax states that list even greater percentage of their population than New York. What’s the reasons here?
So more people will move to Florida for just over half the year and raises for transit workers despite horrible service
“We won’t be able to survive in New York if we don’t get the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes,” said State Senator Jessica Ramos in a tweet Monday.
Correction: We won’t be able to survive in New York State with politicians like Jessica Ramos in charge. We’ve been “surviving” in New York State quite easily long before Ramos even abandoned her own county to migrate here.