Candidate Also Reaffirms Commitment to Repeal the MTA Foley Payroll Tax

Lee Zeldin (R-C-I), candidate for New York State Senate, 3rd SD, today called on the MTA to get its fiscal house in order by January 2011, warning that, if not, he will help lead unprecedented efforts to completely overhaul the mismanaged “public benefit corporation.”

“MTA services have the supply and demand to sustain itself during good economic times and bad,” said Zeldin, who has also called for a thorough top-down forensic audit of the failing New York City based entity. “The failure of the MTA to cut its administrative overhead to balance its books is completely irresponsible.”

“What is most insulting,” noted Zeldin, “is the MTA Foley Payroll Tax, which is wrongfully forcing non user businesses, schools, hospitals, non-for-profits and local governments, to pay this ill advised, ill conceived new tax.”

Zeldin has expressed his strong desire to lead efforts to fully repeal the Foley Payroll Tax bailout of the MTA.

Zeldin continued, “The MTA has just a few more months in 2010 to figure this problem out on its own. A new Republican Majority in the New York State Senate must take the proactive role of publicized hearings of each and every individual responsible for leading the MTA. There must also be a full top-down forensic audit of the MTA’s finances. All options for balancing the books of this failing Public Benefit Corporation should then be on the table and the best course of action should be implemented swiftly and efficiently.”

“If the MTA has to increase subway rides a quarter to balance their books then so be it, but the MTA really should be looking more so at its internal structure then the wallets of users and non users.” said Zeldin. “By no uncertain terms should my position be misstated or mischaracterized by my opponent. New York State is being run by New York City based politicians who look to Long Island like an ATM machine. At the end of the day, my position is that the MTA’s books are to be legitimately balanced, public hearings conducted, a top-down forensic audit initiated in earnest, LIRR ticket prices either kept the same as they are now or reduced, and the MTA Foley Payroll Tax fully repealed.

“There is a new day rising where there must not only be a political balance in Albany but also a geographic balance in Albany. This is one of the main reasons I am so honored to be running for this important office at this important time in our county, Island and state’s future,” concluded Zeldin.

Zeldin, 30, served as an aide to State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. The Shirley resident studied at the University at Albany, graduated from Albany Law School, and earned his commission through Army ROTC. He was a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. In the summer of 2006, he was deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers. Lee with his wife, Diana, have 3 year old identical twin daughters, Mikayla and Arianna.
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ECHOES CALL FOR FORENSIC REVIEW OF
$900 MILLION MTA BUDGET DEFICIT

State Senate candidate Lee Zeldin (R,C,I) today came out in strong opposition to the proposed LIRR fare hikes, service cuts and the Ronkonkoma parking fee increase. Zeldin also reaffirmed his commitment to help lead taxpayers in the fight to find out why the MTA has a $900 million budget deficit despite the new MTA Payroll Tax that has cost businesses, schools, hospitals, non-for-profits and local governments hundreds of millions of dollars.

“With nearly 10 percent fare hikes on the way, deep service cuts, and billions of dollars vanishing into a $900 million black hole, something is terribly wrong at the MTA. I will not rest until we identify and correct the source of this problem,” Zeldin said.

“Commuters from Islip and Brookhaven who drive to the Ronkonkoma Station will bear an especially insulting burden with parking fee increases in addition to the more expensive train tickets,” Zeldin noted.

Zeldin’s November opponent, Senator Brian Foley, has been singled out as a prime example of what is wrong with a government filled with too many career politicians subjecting taxpayers to such economic abuse. “When Brian Foley cast the deciding vote to clobber us with the MTA Payroll Tax, why didn’t he at least ask, ‘Where’s the money going?’” Zeldin asked. “And why is he not questioning the service cuts and fare hikes and the MTA administration that are bleeding Long Islanders dry?”

Zeldin has committed to reaching out to all commuters, motorists, business owners and others focused on changing what is probably the worst run state government in our nation. “Incumbents, like my opponent and his New York City-based leaders, must be held accountable. We have reached the breaking point and I will not rest until we see wholesale changes in the way our state legislature treats Long Island.”

“In the discussions I’ve had so far, people want to know what happened to our money. We’ve already had a fare hike and now another one is on the way. We are already being hammered by the MTA Payroll Tax and all we see are more service cuts and a $900 million shortfall. The people are demanding answers and a forensic review of this grossly mismanaged agency would be a good place to start,” concluded Zeldin.

Zeldin, 30, served as an aide to State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. The Shirley resident studied at the University at Albany, graduated from Albany Law School, and earned his commission through Army ROTC. He was a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. In the summer of 2006, he was deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers. Lee with his wife, Diana, have 3 year old identical twin daughters, Mikayla and Arianna.
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Today, Frank MacKay, Chairman of the Suffolk County and New York State Independence Party nominated Lee Zeldin as the candidate to defeat State Senator Brian Foley. Zeldin becomes the only State Senate challenger to receive their nomination throughout New York.

“I take this opportunity to personally thank Chairman MacKay and the members of the Independence Party for supporting my candidacy for New York State Senate, 3rd SD. Together, we will defeat Senator Brian X. Foley and restore effective, accountable representation for the taxpayers of the 3rd Senatorial District,” said Zeldin.

Zeldin continued, “Long Island’s middle income families are in desperate need of independent leadership. I am proud and honored to have the full support of Chairman MacKay and the Independence Party. As the only State Senate challenger to receive this nomination, it is a testament to the Chairman’s leadership in recognizing the inequities of Brian Foley’s voting record.”

Zeldin concluded by emphasizing the importance of this race, stating “an endorsement does not guarantee future success in November. It will take a deep commitment of hard working volunteers and other supporters to defeat Brian Foley and give the residents of the 3rd Senatorial District a voice in the State Senate again.”

Zeldin, 30, served as an aide to State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. The Shirley resident studied at the University at Albany, graduated from Albany Law School, and earned his commission through Army ROTC. He was a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. In the summer of 2006, he was deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers. Lee with his wife, Diana, have 3 year old identical twin daughters, Mikayla and Arianna.

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Newsday-July 9, 2010 (By: Dan Janison)

State Republican Party stalwarts like to tell you how much they like Lee Zeldin’s chances to unseat first-term state Sen. Brian Foley (D-Blue Point). By phone yesterday, Sen. Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton), who’s directing the GOP’s effort to recoup the upper house, said: “We really believe Zeldin can and will beat Foley . . . I’d say he’s our top prospect on Long Island.”

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Last week, Brookhaven Town announced that they had filed a lawsuit against the MTA Foley Payroll Tax. This week, the William Floyd School District has rightfully done so as well.

Everything about this payroll tax is wrong. If my opponent, Senator Brian Foley, did not abandon his constituents by casting the deciding vote to pass this tax, this would not be such a major issue today for local governments, school districts, businesses, hospitals, and others.

The MTA Foley Payroll Tax must be fully repealed.

Brookhaven Town and the William Floyd School District were thrown under the MTA bus by Brian Foley. I thank both of them for standing up to Foley and standing up for the taxpayers of our community.