Parker Speaks Up, Fight Moves to Assembly

The quote of last week came from Sen. Kevin Parker, who joined a majority of his fellow Democrats in voting against the tax cap bill, telling the New York Times:

“We’re not going to be voting for political schemes today, we’re going to be standing up, speaking truth to power.”

What would the tax cap bill passed by the Senate do exactly? Richard C. Iannuzzi, president of the New York State United Teachers, summed it up perfectly:

“The Senate today chose political expediency and the illusion of property tax relief over a real, meaningful solution — a restructuring of our property tax system based on equity, income and ability to pay.”

Since the “cap” won’t lower anyone’s tax bill (but could, as experience in other states shows, do real damage to our schools) it’s hard not to see Friday’s vote as more than a political stunt. Said Blair Horner of the NYPIRG in Newsday:

"Today was set up to be a way to put pressure on the Assembly ... most of the time that kind of tactic doesn't work."

Political theatre or not, the vote may have some real consequences, as both the AFL-CIO and NYSUT may reconsider their fall Senate endorsements. Dennis Hughes, AFL-CIO President:

"What was once a certainty for endorsements of Republican incumbents is not a certainty anymore.”

The fight now moves to the Assembly, where as Times and other note, the prospects for passage are at least a bit dimmer. The Sun’s Jacob Gershman points out:

“It's hardly unusual for Mr. Silver to be the odd man out. In his 14 years as speaker, he has flourished in the role by conserving bargaining leverage and holding out for concessions.”

The politics are complicated, to say the least. But unlike the Senate Republicans, Democrats in the Assembly have rarely grasped at bad policy solutions, even when it’s the politically convenient thing to do.

Here’s hoping those voices of reason prevail again.