Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (8th Senate District) recently blasted the likelihood of the reinstatement of the New York City commuter tax.

"New York City is in a budget crisis and putting the burden on the backs of hardworking commuters is highly unfair," Fuschillo said. In May of 1999, Fuschillo stood side-by-side with Governor Pataki at a Long Island Rail Road station when the commuter tax was officially abolished. As a result, commuters from both Nassau and Suffolk Counties are now saving a total of more than $100 million a year.

"To say that commuters are not already giving their fair share back to the city is blatantly wrong," Fuschillo said. "In addition to the expense of getting into the city each and every day, they spend millions of dollars on dining, shopping and other necessities while in the city. If the city wants to stimulate their economy, they should focus on creating jobs and boosting tourism rather than raising taxes."

Before it was removed from state law, the commuter tax was a 30-year-old so-called "temporary" tax on New York State residents who worked in New York City, but lived outside the five boroughs.

"In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, we must support new initiatives to boost our economy - not add any undue financial burdens," Fuschillo said. "A commuter tax will do more damage than good."