Pataki Campaign Ad Criticized for Tax Inaccuracies

The Pataki campaign's television ad aimed at criticizing Mario Cuomo's record on taxes and fees contains inaccuracies, according to an analysis by the press. The ad claims that Cuomo has raised taxes and fees on everything since becoming Governor, but a closer examination reveals that many of the increases listed are either not actual increases or were subject to legislative approval. For example, the top rate for earned income tax was lowered from 10 percent to 7.875 percent, with the campaign counting it as an increase because Cuomo and the Legislature halted a scheduled reduction to 7 percent.

Key Takeaways:

• The Pataki campaign's ad on Cuomo's tax record contains inaccuracies regarding tax increases.
• Cuomo's administration saw increases in some taxes, but also decreases in others, keeping the overall state tax burden relatively stable.
• All tax increases listed in the ad required legislative approval, including those voted on by the Republican-controlled Senate.
• Specific taxes and fees listed in the ad, such as the lottery winnings tax and mail-order tax, were not actual increases but rather legislative changes or efforts to collect taxes from out-of-state businesses.
• Cuomo's personal income tax rate was lowered from 10 percent to 7.875 percent, contrary to the ad's claim of an increase.
• The ad's assertion that Cuomo has raised taxes and fees on everything since becoming Governor is not supported by the facts.

Statistics:

• 7.875 percent: The current top rate for earned income tax under the personal income tax, a decrease from 10 percent.
• 7 percent: The scheduled reduction to the earned income tax rate that was halted by Cuomo and the Legislature.
• 1989: The year in which the Legislature voted to make automatic withholdings for large lottery prizes mandatory.
• 30 seconds: The length of the Pataki campaign's television ad criticizing Cuomo's tax record.

Sources:

• State Tax Department
• Pataki campaign
• Cuomo administration