An Open Letter to Governor Paterson
Dear Governor Paterson,
I’m a fiscal conservative and have written extensively about the dangers faced by communities that rely on too much government spending. Balanced budgets and low-taxes are good things. Almost always.
But the private-sector economy in New York is in free-fall. And you simply can’t slash $15 billion from the state’s budget and still help spark an economic recovery.
The two goals are irreconcilable.
Your uncertainty about which path to follow — revealed in your State of the State speech — is becoming a part of the problem.
You were way ahead of the curve in predicting this economic crisis. Don’t fall behind now.
Here’s what you do:
1. Raise gas taxes by fifty cents a gallon. We’d still be at half the pump price we hit last summer. Share the pain by implementing a one-year millionaire’s tax. That shrinks the budget gap dramatically.
2. Demand a big chunk of the remaining deficit from Washington.
3. Forget about the rest of the red ink, for now.
4. Start spending big. Bond and borrow for as many shovel-ready projects as you can. Get the state authorities (ORDA, NYPA, etc.) in on the act. Yes, make sure the projects will contribute something to the future economy, but get people working.
(An aside: This is the time to build projects that might have seemed marginal a year ago. The rooftop highway? Improvements to the St. Lawrence Seaway? That big conference center in Lake Placid? Go for it.)
5. Cancel plans for more state job lay-offs. Now. Make it clear that the state will be the backstop for this employment crisis, not part of it. Reassign people to make them more productive, sure. But keep them working.
6. Cancel plans to defund public schools. Districts around the state are already preparing to lay-off teachers and other staff. Not the best time. It’s contributing to that toxic climate of uncertainty.
7. You and your team have to think bigger. You can’t raise the specter of economic Armageddon and then get sidetracked talking about overweight kids.
Governor Roosevelt and his Brain Trust test-drove the New Deal here in New York. What’s your big vision for saving the Empire State from the next Great Depression?
Thanks for listening and — good luck.
Brian Mann
Political Reporter
North Country Public Radio
