Oct 22, 2009 6:21 am US/Eastern
FLOP: Paterson Does About Face On New Taxes
Governor Now Says Soda "Fat Tax" Back On Table After Telling CBS 2 HD Exclusively No New Taxes Through 2010
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Gov. Paterson has proposed a $5 billion plan to reduce New York state's deepening deficits with across-the-board cuts over two years.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Just four days after telling CBS 2 HD he will not raise taxes on cash strapped New Yorkers, Gov. David Paterson wants lawmakers to consider imposing his "fat tax" on soda and sugary drinks next year.
When it comes to taxing already burdened New Yorkers, Paterson appears to be a ping pong ball who can't make up his mind.
Last Friday on CBS 2 HD he was absolutely and unequivocally against new taxes -- period.
"No new taxes this year. No new taxes next year," Paterson said.
But in just four days he had a change of heart because Tuesday he told listeners on WNYC radio he wanted to re-impose his much maligned 15 percent tax on soda's and other drinks containing sugar.
"I promise I will put it back in my budget address and give the Legislature another chance to do it. You can't keep voting down ways to create revenue and then saying you don't want to make cuts," Paterson said.
That didn't set well with some state lawmakers. In fact at a meeting Wednesday with Legislative leaders, Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos called him out on it.
"One of my concerns is I read in one of the news accounts that you're proposing a soda tax again. My concern is that whenever you propose any new taxes or any new fees the list gets longer and longer," Skelos said.
Asked about how the governor went from no new taxes to the soda tax, a spokesman claimed that during the CBS 2 HD interview the governor was only talking about no new taxes in his budget reduction plan, not his new budget for next year.
Maybe the spokesman needs to hear his words again.
"No new taxes this year. No new taxes next year," the governor said.
So how do New Yorkers feel?
"I think it's ridiculous," one man said. "I grew up with the old school method that your word should be iron-clad. I think it's ridiculous that he … um … ridiculous is the key word."
"I think it's a good idea. We need money in this economy," another man said.
The governor also said Wednesday he would look favorably on an attempt to collect more sales and excise taxes from Indian reservations around the state.
The tax flap comes as a new Quinnipiac poll shows the governor being beaten in a Democratic primary by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo 61 percent to 19 percent.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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