(Editor's note: Three of Senator Craig Johnson's recent columns in this newspaper were on the subject of the state budget and proposed tax legislation. Barbara Donno, who is challenging Johnson in the upcoming election, submitted the following response.)

After reading Senator Craig Johnson's comments on tax relief in a recent edition of The Westbury Times, it was disturbing to see him infuse partisan politics on such an important issue for Long Island taxpayers, especially when he has been on the wrong side of it from the beginning.

Craig Johnson was the only state senator from Long Island who failed to join a bipartisan effort to support our local schools. Instead, he supported former Governor Spitzer's plan to eliminate our property tax rebate checks and cut nearly 40 percent of our share of new state school aid - taking funding away from our schools that can't afford to lose it.

The fact is that for every dollar we spend on schools, only 10 cents comes back from Albany, which is one of the lowest amounts in the state. According to the Nassau/Suffolk School Board Association, Long Island has 17 percent of the state's students, but we get under 13 percent of New York State school aid.

Now, Craig Johnson is sponsoring a "triple play" plan that would eliminate property tax rebate checks for every Long Island taxpayer - including seniors living on fixed incomes. In addition, his plan would increase property taxes for over 379,000 Long Island households at a time when we are paying some of the highest in the nation. This is not relief; it's not even more of the same. It's Craig Johnson saying "three strikes - you're out" to Long Island taxpayers.

We need someone in Albany who will bring home our fair share of aid to our school districts. We need someone to fight for us, cut our property taxes and provide real mandate relief. My top priorities will be to ensure Long Island residents get their fair share of school aid and much-needed property tax relief from Albany - and if elected to represent you, I will fight to increase property taxpayers' rebate checks, not take them away.

Barbara Donno
Republican candidate for NYS Senate, 7th District