Debt and budget reform are first priorities in curbing New York's excessive spending and debt. I advocate limiting the amount of debt the state and its authorities can assume, restricting the use of debt to capital projects, and making debt issuance subject to more rigorous financial and public review.
I will fight to reform our budget process by requiring greater accountability, transparency, and fiscal discipline. I will fight to add accountability by providing a greater opportunity for public review, add transparency by adding and enforcing reporting requirements for public authorities, and promote fiscal discipline by requiring lump-sum appropriation awards be merit-based.
New Yorkers pay high personal income tax rates and, often, get little in return. In addition, our regressive tax system unfairly places the burden on those who can afford it least. I will fight to reduce regressive sales and property taxes with a more progressive personal income tax structure.
