Facing reelection next year, Governor Cuomo virtually shot down the possibility that the state would take up a de Blasio plan to hike the city tax rate. In a meeting with the NY Daily News editorial board, Gov. Cuomo raised the concern that Mr. de Blasio’s plan could force millionaires to leave the state.

“They feel better that the arrow’s pointed down,” he said. “What they fear is that they’re in a place where the taxes will continually go up and there will be a ceiling and they’ll say, ‘I’m going to Florida. I believe that.”

Mr. Cuomo noted that the State Legislature has already extended the state tax rates earlier this year through 2017.

“If (de Blasio’s) elected and if he comes to Albany, he can make his case and we will hear him out and let’s have a fulsome discussion, but this is a conversation we just had,” he said.

During last night’s televised debate, Mr. Lhota warned de Blasio’s plan to increase income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers would end up hurting the middle-class.

“It’s never happened anywhere in this country where they just raise taxes on the wealthy. Believe me, and believe me when I say this, he will not stop,” Lhota proclaimed. “During his entire career as a member of City Council he voted twice to increase the property taxes, there wasn’t a fee or a fine that he didn’t vote for. He has a record of continually going back and taking money away from the middle class. It’s not right.”

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)