Caucus leaders want the state to collect more in personal income taxes from the wealthiest New Yorkers to fund the Medicaid Quality Incentive Program, and other Medicaid cuts and changes to education funding proposed in Hochul's budget. Caucus members are discussing the details of the proposal the group of lawmakers will back to increase taxes on New York millionaires and billionaires and keep the state more affordable for the middle class.
"There's a whole host of items we could think about funding, and bringing tax equity and fairness can help us do that," Caucus chair Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages said.
The caucus' budget priorities focus on funding programs to address economic, housing, health care and maternal health disparities affecting people of color. Solages, a Democrat from Elmont, argues to achieve that, wealthier New Yorkers must pay a fairer share of taxes — though it's the one budget item where Hochul has said she's not open to compromise.
"People should pay their fair share of taxes and unfortunately, that's not being done," Solages said. "And the middle class and low-income individuals are getting the brunt of this, so not only are they going to have a lack of services, but they're not going to partake into what New York is about."
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