On Monday evening, May 17, Assemblyman Steve Labriola (R-Massapequa) voted to repeal the commuter tax for suburban residents who work in New York City. The assemblyman said the repeal of this onerous "temporary" tax -- first enacted in 1966 -- is long overdue and is made possible thanks in large part to the strong fiscal situation the city now enjoys.

"This 'temporary' tax has been in place since the Vietnam War era," said Labriola. "It was time for the Legislature, in light of the city's solid fiscal footing, to prod the city into doing the right thing on behalf of suburban residents."

Labriola explained that the tax-cut legislation, if signed into law, would work in two stages:

* First, the tax on New York state commuters who work in the city and live elsewhere in the state will be revoked; and

* Second, if those provisions are deemed unconstitutional through litigation on behalf of city commuters from other states -- who still must pay the tax -- then the entire commuter tax will be repealed so all commuters are treated equally.

"Nassau residents who commute to work in the city pay numerous taxes already in support of the few city services they use during the day," said Labriola. "Repeal of this additional tax on many Long Islanders was long overdue."