From NY Daily News:
Gov. Paterson suggested Tuesday he may veto any plan to hike taxes on the wealthy.
"Everybody is trying to find a way that they can keep spending," Paterson complained. "If people think that they are going to create a false economy here by raising taxes ... I am just not going to support this."
Asked specifically if he would veto an income tax hike, Paterson said, "I think I would if there was the type of tax increase that was just designed to re-create spending."
But, in typical Paterson style, he hedged shortly afterward.
"I didn't say that I would veto an income tax hike for all time," the governor said.
Paterson said he wants the Legislature to enact $11 billion in cuts "and not use the [federal] stimulus money as a substitute for spending cuts."
The federal money should be used to protect against future deficits, he said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Eric Schneiderman (D-Manhattan) introduced a bill that would increase the 6.85% income tax to 8.25% for people making more than $250,000. Those making more than $500,000 would pay 8.97%, and those earning over $1 million would pay 10.3%.
The changes would raise more than $6 billion in additional revenue for the state, Schneiderman said.
Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos rejected tax hikes, saying Democrats "do not know how to stop taxing."
