I was having a conversation a few weeks back with a Budget Analyst for the Assembly Democrats and he remarked (or complained) about the long hours they were clocking this year. 

"Doing the people's work," he joked.  How ironic I thought at the time, coming from someone who spends their days finding new ways to expand the state Leviathan at the expense of hardworking taxpayers. 

So when the Assembly Democrats forced through a state budget on March 31 with a shocking $10 billion spending increase, I had no choice but to chuckle.  With everything and the kitchen sink thrown into the spending plan, what exactly were the analysts working on all hours of the night?  The budget resembles a spending orgy.  It's as if staffers were manning a request hotline for pressure groups and unions as opposed to working with fellow legislators to craft a fiscally responsible budget. 

Oh, wait.   

Then again, if I was working on a plan that would force middle-class families to pony up thousands of dollars in higher taxes in the midst of a great recession I would have negotiated the budget in secret too. 

With the state in financial crisis, we needed the three state leaders to exhibit a backbone and stand up to pressure groups.  We needed them to demonstrate the fiscal discipline necessary to reduce the burden on middle-class families.  We needed them to do so many things. 

Instead, they showed how truly weak they are.   

Taxpayers are going to be the ones that suffer as a result, and not just those making $300,000 or more in New York City.  The Democrat's plan has hard-working Upstate residents in its cross hairs. Taxes on cigars, beer, wine, health insurance, auto insurance and hunting, fishing and driver's licenses have all been increased, as have Child health Plus premiums.  The purchase of Aquafina is now viable revenue stream for state government.  While, the elimination of the Middle-Class STAR Rebate check deprives homeowners of essential property tax relief.

Talk about choking the economy.  In all, the budget includes $8.1 billion in new taxes, fees and revenue actions.  For the big three, Paterson, Silver and Smith, an economic crisis is just another day in the office.    

All the while, a property tax cap was shelved another year.  Reform of our unsustainable pension system never saw the light of day.

Eventually State leaders will be forced into the realization that their tax and spend philosophy is untenable.  With the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression unable to convince Democrats to rethink their antiquated policies, it's scary to think what will.        

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