Spin Cycle

Hon. Michael R. Long

Chairman

New York State Conservative Party

486 78th Street

Fort Hamilton Station, NY 11209

Dear Mike:

I noted with interest published reports of your recent letter to Governor Elliot Spitzer in which you suggested that support for some of his budget proposals could lead to the two of you becoming what you termed "strange bedfellows."

Out of respect to you and given the long and distinguished record that the Conservative Party has of espousing the best interests of hard-working, overtaxed, middle class New Yorkers I feel I must remind you of the old adage that one must be careful where they lie or "risk getting up with fleas."

Your letter to our new governor, and the way that it will surely be interpreted by the press, could leave one with the opinion that the state Conservative Party condones the governor's proposed spending plan which raises taxes -- including massive new taxes on New York businesses -- further stifling entrepreneurship and job creation in a state that sorely lags much of the nation in economic growth, while it redirects future property tax relief so that those New Yorkers who pay among the highest property taxes in the country will get the smallest relief.

On the other hand, Senator Joe Bruno and the Republican Senate Majority are proposing a program of tax cuts that will make New York more affordable for the middle class, create jobs and spur economic growth, and halt the flight of the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who leave our state each year for more tax friendly environments down south and out west.

Senate Republicans propose tripling the size of the tax rebate check taxpayers received last year and quadrupling the rebate in 2008, providing them with $6 billion in direct property tax relief ($2.6 billion in relief this year and $3.4 billion in 2008).

I would be truly surprised if you have adopted the governor's mantra that providing state resources for tax rebate checks that go directly into the pockets of overburdened taxpayers is "wasteful" spending.

Joe Bruno and his Senate Majority have it right and in the true tradition of Ronald Reagan, a political figure that both you and I revere, they are leading the fight to return billions of dollars to average New Yorkers that they can use as they see fit to invest in a better future for themselves and their families.

As a small businessman yourself, you know that small business remains the vital economic engine that is creating the vast majority of new jobs across our state and nation. That's why the Senate Majority is proposing a comprehensive small business assistance package that would provide $490 million in the first year and $1.3 billion in three years to promote growth and create jobs by lowering taxes, providing economic incentives, and streamlining red tape.

Finally, you well know that Senate Republicans have consistently supported reforms in health care spending that seek to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse while protecting the delivery of quality, affordable health care to our state's working families.

Closing hospitals and shuttering nursing homes does more than cruelly burden those in our society who can least afford it, by undermining our state's health care system we create gaping holes in our state's overall economic safety net risking rising costs across the broader social service program spectrum thereby placing even greater burdens on the taxpayers that will be forced, through increased taxes, to assume those increased costs.

You and I are battle-tested political warriors with many years and literally hundreds of campaigns under our belts. We are both far too wise in the ways of politics to be seduced by the conservative veneer of a budget that, examined to its depths, misdirects state spending priorities, raises taxes, and stifles economic growth in a way that would make even Mario Cuomo proud.

Looking forward to our continued partnership in support of the hard-working, middle-class taxpayers of New York, I remain

Sincerely,

JOSEPH N. MONDELLO

Chairman