Federal tax reform a wake-up call for state government reform, says ReclaimNY

MIDDLETOWN – The new federal tax law has a lot of benefits for New Yorkers although it is “rough” that the state and local tax deduction is being reduced. That assessment comes from Douglas Kellogg, the spokesman for ReclaimNY, the organization that promotes transparency and affordability in government.
Kellogg told Mid-Hudson News on Thursday the federal tax reform measure should be a “call to action” for New Yorkers to demand change in Albany.
“It is Albany that has presided over the 49th ranked business climate for years and years and years,” he said. “It is Albany that is to blame for mandates and high property taxes that come with them, so now is the time to focus on reform in Albany and alleviate these burdens for taxpayers and do what we can to make up for the loss of the SALT (state and local tax) deduction.”
Kellogg said it is Albany that is to blame for the “sorry shape that our tax environment is in and now New Yorkers are going to feel the full brunt of it.”