Earlier we posted on how the pro-business group New Yorkers for Growth urged lawmakers to hold open hearings before voting for any tax increases.

Well now another group, the Business Council of New York State, has weighed in, and they are giving the deal a thumbs-up.

“The Business Council commends Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Silver for coming to a bipartisan agreement that will encourage job creation and economic development, reduce the tax burden on middle-income New Yorkers and small businesses, and assist those communities devastated by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee,” said Heather Briccetti, CEO of the group. “ Additionally, the proposal to reduce the tax rate for corporate manufacturers will help an industry that has experienced a steep decline in employment.” Read More

After the deal comes the flood.

In what is sure to be the first of many such statements weighing in on the deal reached between Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers to overhaul the state’s tax system, the pro-business group New Yorkers For Growth called for the Assembly and the Senate to hold public hearings before approving any tax increases.

“Tax policy shouldn’t be adopted in secret after two hastily released ‘essays’ by the governor’s office,” said Liz Feld, a spokesperson for the group and the former mayor of Larchmont. “Tax policy changes should never be made in this fashion.  The public is owed a full airing of the governor’s plan.” Read More

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced moments ago that he has reached an agreement with leaders in the Assembly and the Senate for the first overhaul of the state’s tax plan in decades.

“Our state government has come together in a bipartisan manner to create jobs, grow our economy and, at the same time enact a fair tax plan that cuts taxes for the middle class,” Mr. Cuomo said. “This job-creating economic plan defies the political gridlock that has paralyzed Washington and shows that we can make government work for the people of this State once again.” Read More

If nothing else, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s tinkering with the tax plan has given the state’s op-ed page editors one less hole to fill.

Mr. Cuomo has today sent out to newspapers his second op-ed in as many days laying out his case for overhauling the state’s tax plan.

In this one, he says bluntly, “Our current tax system is also unfair.” Read More