Assemblyman Ed Ra (21st Assembly District) today called on his colleagues to take immediate action on Assembly bill 8193-A, legislation which would repeal and phase out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) payroll tax. Passed by the state Senate on Wednesday, Ra noted that a complete repeal of this job-killing tax is essential to supporting economic growth in the community.

“The MTA has been using the taxpayers of New York like we’re an ATM,” said Ra. “With 800,000 New Yorkers unemployed, we should be doing all we can to create jobs and lower taxes. Our schools and small businesses are forced to pay this tax while at the same time morning trains are being reduced and weekend services eliminated at several stations. The MTA payroll tax only allows a bloated bureaucracy to continue to fund its inefficient services with our money as it eliminates services from our community.

“I am committed to these principles: lower taxes, job creation, improved health care, and stronger schools. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this legislation because it will allow each of those principles to become stronger and will bring economic prosperity to our community. The Assembly must take action today to help our community during these difficult economic times. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in putting an end to the misuse of taxpayer dollars and vote to repeal the job-killing MTA payroll tax today.”

This legislation would begin to phase out the payroll tax in 2012 by exempting small businesses with 25 employees or less, as well as public and non-public schools throughout Nassau County. The payroll tax would sunset entirely on January 1, 2014.

Editor’s Note: Please click here to see video coverage of Assemblyman Ra speaking about the MTA and its effects on the 21st Assembly District.