Tax Freedom Day

Although most Americans look at April 15th as Tax Freedom Day, it is actually much later than that. True liberation from tax burdens isn’t realized until approximately the beginning of May, and in NYC it is unspecified, but can be even longer. Tax Freedom Day can be defined as the day an average American has theoretically earned enough money to pay off his or her total tax obligations for the year. This includes various taxes such as personal income tax, sales tax, property taxes, state/federal, and more. The calculation used to determine this date assumes that everyone in the nation works for eight hours a day beginning January 1st, and that every dollar earned is not spent. 

The venerable Tax Foundation, founded as a not-for-profit in 1937, has for years published a chart approximating the date each state’s residents could enjoy this special date, has estimated that in New York State it is the first week of May. Interestingly, surrounding states of New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts as well as California have similar dates. Places like Texas, New Hampshire, South Carolina, among others have a noticeably earlier Tax Freedom Day. Florida is sooner than New York which is one of the latest, Florida being more to the middle of the pack. 

Nevertheless, the enduring trend persists, with New York consistently ranking among the states burdened by high taxes, echoing similar challenges faced by other predominantly blue states, while their red counterparts fare better. Every dollar New Yorkers earn goes to paying taxes in a state that essentially lights it on fire. 

The question of what taxpayers receive in exchange for their contributions warrants examination. Unfortunately, the returns seem non-existent in comparison to the financial demands imposed. Issues such as congestion pricing and tolls, porous borders, budget mismanagement, escalating crime rates, and a notable exodus from the state paint a bleak picture of the taxpayer experience. 

Regrettably, the only foreseeable prospect within the New York State governance framework appears to be the perpetuation of higher tax obligations without evident or increased benefits. This cycle offers little incentive for optimism or anticipation for the average New Yorker, as it seemingly leads only to further fiscal strain without tangible improvements in public services or quality of life. Unless you are an illegal immigrant of course, then New York tax dollars are used for paying for 5 Star Hotels, meals, education, healthcare, credit cards and much more while we have homeless Americans and struggling veterans across the State. One-party Democratic rule is the reason New York was just ranked the worst state for economic outlook for the 11th year in a row! Eleven years ranking dead last is an absolute embarrassment, and yet Democrats remain committed to their policies. One would define that as insanity.  

According to the Tax Foundation’s website, their mission is “to improve lives through tax policies that lead to greater economic growth and opportunity.” For over 80 years their mission statement has been the same. Yet can you think of any tax policies that have abided by this mission statement? The simple answer is no, and we don’t expect them to start anytime soon. New Yorkers, and the Country as a whole, are fed up; this November, the common sense majority will prevail at the voting booth. 

Budget

New York is drifting between having a bad late budget and a very bad late budget with this week’s new state budget extenders. The longer the process goes, the more progressives will add to the already extraordinarily high price tag of running this state under one-party Democrat rule. The size and scope of the eventual budget will be on a historic scale, and never in a good way. You can read our full press release on the matter here:

STATE BUDGET

The Conservative Party has been clear that we oppose the State Budget submitted by the Governor as being way too expensive, and once again filled with woke ideas, lacking in a realistic understanding of the problems the state is encountering as a result of illegal immigration and inept criminal justice reforms.

The two one-house budgets submitted by the Assembly and Senate Democrats were somehow even worse. Costing more overall, with new taxes, and even more out of touch programs and restorations that do nothing for New Yorkers who continue to flee.

Now, the Empire Foundation has brought to our attention an effort to retroactively change pension retirement tier 6 which has been in effect since April of 2012. Changing an existing retirement tier has never happened in the history of our state with good reason. It by definition would be retroactive affecting 54% of current state employees, costing the state billions of dollars and the city hundreds of millions in addition. Of course, those who choose state employment, with its array of benefits since the creation of tier 6, knew exactly what they were eligible to receive. 

It is nothing more than a state pension giveaway in a legislative body that often values organized labor support over the taxpayers as a whole.

As of this writing, the Governor has not offered an opinion. Exploding her budget and future budgets should in itself be good enough reasons for her to threaten a veto.

The Conservative Party is strongly opposed and urges the many legislators we endorse to join with us in opposing this effort.

THE STAGE IS SET

Yesterday, April 4th, was the final day to submit nominating petitions for public office, as well as party office. Literally thousands of individuals have submitted the appropriate number of petition signatures to run for everything from Congress to County Committee.

In many cases, the state or local party organization was required to authorize a candidate for public office who is a member of a political party other than the Conservative Party. 

Due mostly to weather related problems, this was a particularly difficult petition season for all political parties and candidates.

I would like to thank all those who have chosen to run for office and the many party activists who went out to collect signatures over the last five weeks. Let us not forget the many party leaders who organize the petition efforts, their work has not gone unnoticed. If it wasn’t for you all, candidates would not be on the ballot this November, and for that we thank you! 

Greg Abbott in NYC

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the New York GOP Gala with featured speaker Governor Greg Abbott in Manhattan. The Governor gave a fascinating speech covering an array of issues impacting Texas, the Nation, and of course New York. The differences in policy between the Honorable Greg Abbott and our very own Kathy Hochul was beyond astonishing. Governor Hochul has done nothing to put a stop to the migrant crisis facing New York. In fact, her policies have only exacerbated the scope of the problem, and with the help of a Democratic Legislature, they are not interested in fighting to fix it. In stark contrast, Governor Abbott has done everything in his power to fight for his State. Whether it’s building more wall, installing buoy systems, razor wire, or busing migrants to sanctuary cities. How do the Democrats and Joe Biden respond? They sue and challenge every move Abbott makes that would assist in securing the border. The Democrats public relation teams can say they want to secure the border all they want, but the American people are siding with the facts, and not buying into their falsehoods. 

The Holiest of Times

Spring has arrived, and with spring comes the Easter season. The holidays of Easter, Passover, and Ramadan converge in this joyous and holy time of year. No matter what our faith, this holiday season is a time for relatives and friends to share good feelings and warm wishes. Our modern world can be very cold and complex. That is why when we open our hearts, we remake the world in a small but important way.

Spring is also a political season. Volunteers have been going door-to-door petitioning for candidates running for local, state, and national offices. Our nation’s democracy only thrives when individual citizens put in the effort to support candidates who reflect their views. Without the hard work of these activists, our nation would not be the great land that it is. 

The Conservative Party believes in the importance of the individual. Whether one is native born or a recent immigrant to our shores, each person has the right to express his or her opinions on the issues of the day. Our party believes in the importance of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. These freedoms are the bedrock of our democracy. We recognize the importance of freedom of religion especially during these weeks of piety and celebration. No matter what one’s creed, each American recognizes the importance of worship. It is why the Pilgrims came to America in the 1600s. It is the reason many new immigrants come here today.

The American Dream lives in the hearts of every New Yorker. Although many members of the Democrat supermajority in Albany show little respect for basic American beliefs, the members of our Conservative Party, and the majority of the citizens of New York, from Suffolk County to Chautauqua County, still believe in honesty, thrift, and patriotism. I know that you do too.

I wish you a safe and Happy Easter, Passover, and Ramadan. I urge you to keep a sharp eye on all that is taking place in our state and our nation. Remember to vote in November for a strong, confident, conservative New York!

Last Call for Albany Legislative Reception

Last call to get your tickets for the Conservative Party’s Legislative Reception where we present the J. Daniel Mahoney Awards. This year, we will be honoring Chung Dick and Ronald Greenleaf with the prestigious honor. Their tireless work over the years has not gone unnoticed. The reception will be held on Monday, March 25th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the historic Fort Orange Club in Albany located at 110 Washington Avenue, Albany NY 12210. You can purchase your ticket here:

Ron Greenleaf is the longtime Chairman of the Oswego County organization. Under his leadership, the Party has a solid track record of victories with an expanding membership and vote tally.  Ron, a decorated Vietnam War Veteran, has, in addition to his Party responsibilities, held numerous local public offices. Chung Dick, who hails from Kings County, joined the Party’s State leadership while playing key roles in several Brooklyn Party victories. Chung, a commercial movie producer and successful NYC businessman, brought the Party’s message of secure borders, a strong national defense, and anti-communist values to New York State’s fast-growing Asian American communities.

We hope you can join us for the occasion!

Patriots Podium Featuring Senator George Borrello 

For episode number 21 of Patriots Podium we were delighted to have on NYS Senator, George Borrello (R/C) who covers the 57th Senatorial District. George is also the Chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee (SRCC) which is one of the driving forces that helps recruit, guide, and fundraise for Republican/Conservative candidates statewide. The Conservative Party shares the same goals as the Senate GOP in working to overcome the left wing state senate democratic majority. George is a former County Executive and local official who hails from Chautauqua County. In this episode we discuss the ins and outs of Albany, Hochuls Budget, public safety, and much more. Tune in on any of the links below to watch:

Youtube            BuzzSprout            Spotify               Apple Music

State Party in the News

Over the past week, the Conservative Party has had a heavy presence in media reaching across the state. Everybody who receives these weekly wrap ups understands our State is in severe trouble and we need change. Now, and come this November 5th, more and more common sense voters will appeal to the Conservative Party. Why you may ask? The answers are simple, Democrat Policies are making NY uninhabitable. 

Instead of fixing the evident issues facing our State and City, two representatives appointed to a committee considering paying reparations claimed whites were responsible for climate change, slammed Israel and pushed to defund the police. I stated “The commission on reparations was ridiculous from the start. This proves it,”…“These sound like people who have preconceived notions of what they view as white privilege. Unbelievable. There’s no way these appointees should serve on the commission given their comments.” You can read the full article here:

Another clear example would be Mayor Adams recent escapade, which entails planning to install “life alert” devices in apartments to help drug users avoid overdosing. And yes, you guessed it, it will be tax-payer funded. In addition to increasing usage among addicts. City health officials should be helping addicts kick the habit completely rather than condoning or enabling drug use. I stated “Can you imagine Alcoholic Anonymous coming up with a program that allowed you to drink booze? This is using taxpayer resources to allow drug use. It’s a continuation of drug injection sites.” You can read the full article here:

Recently, I went on the Dominic Carter Show on WABC to discuss congestion pricing, which is one of the disastrous policies being forced upon NYC residents by Governor Hochul and Democrats. You can listen to our discussion here: I have never seen a tax or a toll the Democrats haven’t tried to raise over the years, this is only the beginning. 

Combine just a few of these issues facing New York State residents, and one would understand why people are fleeing the state in droves and contributing to our population decline. “New York City lost six percent of its population between 2020 and 2023, and the State as a whole has shed hundreds of thousands of residents over the same period of time. One would think that Democrats running the city and state would realize there’s a problem, and a massive one at that. But one would be wrong. Read the full press release here: 

Lastly, to no one’s surprise, NYS is still holding a Presidential Primary despite Donald J. Trump being the Republican/Conservative presumptive nominee and Joe Biden being the Democrat’s presumptive nominee. I stated “It’s a waste of money. There should be a way to cancel the election. There should be an escape clause to make the primary go away. The Conservative Party would support such a change. Trump and Biden have clinched the nomination and other candidates have withdrawn. Twenty five million dollars, the amount New York City is spending to hold the presidential primary, is a lot of money. You can double that total to $50 million statewide.” You can read the full article here: 

Tik Tok

As you might have noticed over the years, the New York State Conservative Party has never been on Tik Tok. While we have a very large and active media presence on almost every social media platform, we made the common sense decision to not indulge in a Communist owned company.

We have known for years the application of Tik Tok is run by Chinese Communists secretly collecting data from Americans. Now, Americans know the truth behind one of America’s biggest national security threats after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversaries Controlled Application Act.”

It’s obvious the Conservative Party has a distaste for a platform that pushes Communist and anti-American propaganda on a daily basis. This app was cleverly designed to brainwash our most vulnerable groups and target our youth. The House was right in their decision to hold Tik Tik accountable, and the Senate should not waste any time following suit.

Whoopi Calls Out Hochul

We all know “The View” show is run by a bunch of lunatic leftists with a clear liberal agenda. Recently, they had on Governor Hochul to discuss the current State of New York. While it’s evident  our state is falling apart, the View hosts indulged Kathy’s selfishness and failed to press her on issues failing our state.

Crime is still rising through the roof, citizens continue to leave in droves, there is an immigration crisis, an economic collapse, and countless other issues impacting New Yorkers. What is the Governor’s response? Blame Republicans and Conservatives in a state controlled by one-party Democratic rule. This has been the playbook for the Democrat Party in New York for some time, and New Yorkers are waking up to the game.

In this one shocking instance, Whoopie Goldberg, a lifetime New Yorker, ripped Governor Hochul on Congestion pricing. You can view the article here. Since its inception, the Conservative Party has taken a strong stance against Congestion pricing in New York. It is another cash grab by the Government that will charge people $15 dollars just to enter parts of the City. This is absurd and will only hurt the lower-middle class families. Simply put, New York has a spending problem, and until we fix that, Congestion pricing tax and higher MTA fees will not save New York’s Economy.

Schumer’s Ignorance

Senator Chuck Schumer took the Senate floor, and world, by shock delivering his speech that might be interference in Israeli elections. “The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after 10/7.” This is the quote echoing across the world from one of the highest-ranking Democrats and Legislators in the Nation. Schumer is trying to lay out the groundwork to get directly involved with our foreign allies’ election process, citing the lack of confidence he has in Netanyahu to ensure the future of Israel and its people. You can view his unsettling speech here.

The New York State Conservative Party would recommend Mr. Schumer take a good look in the mirror and focus on the issues facing his own state and nation before meddling in Israeli Democracy. Conservative/Republican endorsed Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, who has been a fierce advocate for Israel, had a great response to Schumer. In short, she enlightened how no Democrats are calling for new elections in Gaza, while the tyrannical government of Gaza is run by ravenous murderers, also known as Hamas. The ignorance and double standards should frighten everyone.

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

President Trump, who became the presumptive nominee of the NYS Conservative Party two weeks ago wrapped up the national GOP nomination this past week with a near sweep of Super Tuesday GOP primaries. See our press release here:

The Conservative Party in New York is the sole second line the former President will carry in the nation. This is due to New York’s fusion voting laws which allow the Conservative Party to join with another political party for purposes of a unified candidacy.  In August, the Conservative Party and NYS Republican Party will nominate a joint slate of 28 Trump electors.

The action now moves over to the general election and the growing speculation that President Biden, because of infirmities that are eroding voter confidence and support, will bow out.

Unfortunately for the Democrats, their farm team is limited with their leading prospects supportive of the many failed policies of Biden, Schumer, and former Speaker Pelosi. Every day with every poll and dinner table conversation it becomes more clear that America wants a change in leadership at the top.

THE STATE OF THE UNION

 This nation is suffering a variety of problems, domestically and internationally, and President Biden’s highly partisan address tonight did nothing to fix them. His speech, which can only be described as wandering and angry, confirms the need for change at the top. You can read the press release here:

CONSERVATIVE PARTY TO PRESENT J. DANIEL MAHONEY AWARDS

The Conservative Party will present Oswego County Chairman Ron Greenleaf and State Executive Committee Member Chung Dick with its prestigious J. Daniel Mahoney award at a reception to be held on Monday, March 25^th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Fort Orange Club in Albany located at 110 Washington Avenue, Albany NY 12210. You can purchase your ticket here:

Ron Greenleaf is the longtime Chairman of the Oswego County organization. Under his leadership, the Party has a solid track record of victories with an expanding membership and vote tally.  Ron, a decorated Vietnam War Veteran, has in addition to his Party responsibilities, held numerous local public offices.

Chung Dick, who hails from Kings County, joined the Party’s State leadership while playing key roles in several Brooklyn Party victories. Chung, a commercial movie producer and successful NYC businessman, brought the Party’s message of secure borders, a strong national defense, and anti-communist values to New York State’s fast-growing Asian American communities.

Daniel Mahoney, together with his brother-in-law Kieran, the Buckley family, Charles Edison, and others were founders of the Conservative Party in 1962. Mahoney who served as State Chairman for over twenty years went on to become a Federal Court of Appeals Judge. Congratulations Chung and Ron!

PODCAST WITH MIKE SAPRAICONE

Thank you all for tuning in to the Patriots Podium Podcast over the last year. We are now on episode number 20 of Patriots Podium where we continue to bring like-minded conservative experts, lawmakers, candidates, and much more into the mix. For this episode, we are excited to have on Mike Sapraicone, the Conservative and Republican Party endorsed candidate for United States Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand. A little background on Mike, he hails from Richmond Hills, Queens, and has lived in Nassau County for many years as a father of five children. He is a retired NYC police detective and founder of successful domestic and international security companies. In this episode, we discuss Mike’s race, 2^nd Amendment rights, Gillibrand’s absence, congestion pricing, and many more issues facing our State. I encourage you to give this a listen if you are interested in learning more about Mike and his campaign. You can listen on any of the links below:

YouTube                              BuzzSprout                         Apple Music                                      Spotify