Assemblyman Tom McKevitt announced that he would be circulating petitions to oppose a commuter tax that would be imposed on Long Island residents who work in New York City.

The tax imposed on Long Island residents who work in the city would come in the form of a payroll deduction of .45 percent of a resident's yearly income. For example, a Long Island resident who earns $75,000 a year would pay $337.50 in a yearly commuter tax that will go into New York City's budget.

The bill, introduced by state Senator Tom Dunne and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, would bring an estimated $550 million in revenue to New York City, according to McKevitt.

McKevitt believes such a measure is unfair to Long Islanders who work in New York City and pay thousands of dollars to commute to and from New York City in addition to paying sales tax while they shop and eat lunch during work in the city.

"You don't tax your way out of a recession," said McKevitt, who believes the commuter tax is a way for New York City to continue to give its residents rebate checks on the backs of Long Islanders. "We don't need additional taxes or new taxes."

McKevitt said he has received support from some of his colleagues in the state Assembly in opposing the proposed commuter tax. Assemblyman Tom Alfano is opposing the tax. "The commuter tax is the wrong answer at a time when our economy is in shambles," said Alfano. "It's about time the government looks to cut itself before imposing another tax on consumers."

McKevitt will be distributing postcards to residents that they can mail back to his office to join him in opposition to the New York City Commuter Tax.