ALBANY, N.Y. Jan. 26, 2017 — New York State United Teachers today released the following statement in response to a progressive tax plan proposed by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, which would bring in an additional $5.6 billion in new revenue annually to support public education, health care and infrastructure improvements.
“This progressive tax proposal, if enacted, would enable New York State to accelerate its investment in public schools and colleges, health care and infrastructure, improving the lives of students and middle class families in neighborhoods across the state. We applaud Speaker Carl Heastie and the Assembly Majority for advancing a fair, progressive tax proposal that recognizes that the highest earners — individuals with incomes well above $1 million a year — can and should do a little more to help strengthen educational opportunities for everyone, thus making our communities better places to live, work and raise a family.”
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.