The Times asks, and Mirsky Answers
The New York Times recently posted a list of questions for candidates for State Assembly to answer, and our man Stu Mirsky, Candidate for the Assembly in the 23rd AD, responded.
Recently the New York Times posed a series of questions for voters to ask their candidates for the State legislature this year before choosing whom to support on Election Day. I’ve taken the liberty of providing my answers to the Times’ questions here (since the Times showed no interest in them when I actually sent them to them directly):
[…]
The Times: Does the candidate support property tax relief?
Stu Mirsky: Actually, I want all kinds of tax relief. I want to cut all taxes wherever and whenever this can be done because taxes are a burden on the citizenry and the economy. Of course this means we have to cut spending as well. To do the latter, I would seek to introduce zero based budgeting for state agencies, establish sunset provisions for all discretionary state programs, rein in and reform the “public authority” system, introduce transparent budgeting rules (so the public can see how we’re spending their money and where), restrict usage by the state of surpluses collected in any tax year by directing that they either be returned to taxpayers or placed in a rainy day fund against future fiscal difficulties, and seek to ensure that borrowed funds could not be routinely used to cover operating expenses (though this could be waived in emergencies). Finally, I’d look for cost reduction opportunities in areas currently identified with major fraud and abuse such as the state Medicaid program.
If you want to read all the questions (and Stu’s answers), visit Stu’s blog, here: Stu’s Blog: Responding to the NY Times.
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