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Monday, November 16, 2009 5:35 PM EST
NY gov backs off new license plate plan ... if state lawmakers help him find other ways to generate revenue
By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press Writer
ALBANY - The rallying cry of “no new plates” has apparently reached the ears of the state’s top elected officials.
Gov. David Paterson said Sunday that he would drop support of a plan to require vehicle owners to pay for new license plates if state legislators work with him to find other ways to generate revenue.
The license plate plan announced early this year had been expected to raise $129 million by requiring vehicle owners to pay $25 to buy new plates starting next year, but the idea was immediately scorned by New Yorkers across the state, who have been hit with historic tax increases to fight a state fiscal crisis amid a recession.
Thousands signed an online petition at http://www.nonewplates.com to protest the plan.
Democratic and Republican leaders of the Assembly say they will work to repeal the measure passed in April as part of the state budget.
More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition at http://www.nonewplates.com/ that St. Lawrence County Clerk Patricia Ritchie put up to protest the new license plate plan. She is scheduled to deliver it to Albany on Monday.
“They’ve cried, ’Enough!’ with the new taxes, fees, mandates and inconvenience that this license plate plan creates for their families in already difficult times,” said Ritchie, who is president of the state Association of County Clerks. “They’ve shared their moving stories of sacrifices they’ve had to make, and how they just can’t handle one more needless expense.”
The Senate’s Democratic majority raised the issue a week ago through its upstate caucus pushing into talks over the current deficit reduction plan, even though revenue from the plates wouldn’t be received until next year. Now, the Senate has an understanding that if they find additional resources the plan will be dropped, said Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran.
“If the Legislature works with me, prior to the release of the 2010-11 Executive Budget, to identify real, recurring savings that will replace the revenue that would be lost, I will eliminate the new license plate requirement,” Paterson stated.
The state faces a $3.2 billion deficit that could run as high as $9 billion in the 2010-11 budget due April 1, by Paterson’s estimate.
In a joint statement, Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Republican leader Brian Kolb said they agreed to repeal the requirement that all New York vehicle owners obtain the new yellow plates after April 1.
They said Paterson is “committed to this repeal, and we will work with him.”
Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos called it a “lame-brained plan” by the Democrats “to force people to pay for new license plates that they don’t need.”
The Republicans sought to repeal the measure and opposed it in April.
The new plates were to be required for each of the estimated 10 million cars, trucks, trailers and ATVs registered in the state at a cost of $25 - a $10 increase over the current cost. To keep the plate number would cost another $20. This would be on top of a 25 percent increase in the driver’s license and registration fees that took effect in September.
On the Net:
DMV: http://www.nysdmv.com
No New Plates: http://www.nonewplates.com
Burling against new plates idea
Assemblyman Dan Burling, R,C,I-Warsaw, announced that he will introduce legislation during Monday’s special legislative session to repeal the $25 increase in Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) license-plate fees.
Beginning April 2010, the state is mandating new license plates for motorists whose registrations are up for renewal. Assemblyman Burling, who voted against the budget that included the measure, called it a misguided $129 million tax on hard-working, middle-class families.
“What alarms me is how out of touch many New York City legislators - the ones who crafted and passed the budget - are about the way of life in Western New York,” Assemblyman Burling said. “We lack mass transit; instead we rely on our cars when we need to pick up our kids, shop for groceries, or go to the doctor. For them to impose a new tax aimed directly at rural and suburban New York state residents is outrageous.”
In addition to the $25 surcharge for new plates, drivers who want to keep the same plate number will have to pay an additional $20. This comes atop the $50 surcharge that was already tacked on to registration renewals, and driver’s license renewal costs that increased $16. In addition, car-rental fees in the state now include an additional 5 percent tax. Assemblyman Burling said the fee increases were simply an attempt to pay for the state’s excessive spending habits.
The “Empire Gold” license plate - dark blue and gold - will replace the current white and dark blue design featuring state landmarks. The color scheme is reminiscent of the plate design used from 1973 to 1986. Production of the new plates is scheduled to begin in the next several weeks and will be mailed out beginning in February. Production of the new plates will cost the state more than $32 million over two years, according to the governor’s office.
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