August 2006

Nieuw Amersfort Civic Association During a recent visit to the Nieuw Amersfort Civic Association, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein informed members about the numerous money saving income tax credits and property tax rebates the State Legislature enacted this year.

REDUCING INCOME TAXES

The STAR personal income tax credit (City of New York School Tax Credit) was increased to $115 for single filers and $230 for joint filers - bringing total STAR savings for New York City residents to $1.1 billion annually.

PROPERTY TAX REBATE CHECKS

NYC property owners who participate in STAR, (the property tax savings program) will receive rebate checks equal to 30% of their 2005-2006 STAR Benefit. The Legislature also enacted a Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) for Enhanced STAR recipients, which will save seniors an additional $72 million statewide.

WEINSTEIN WORKING TO PREVENT IDENTITY FRAUD

The Assembly enacted new laws to crack down on the growing crime of identity theft. These laws will better protect New York residents from being targets of identity theft and provide assistance for those who are victimized. Assemblywoman Weinstein worked hard for these critical new measures – to help prevent these crimes before they happen. New legislation will:

• Provide consumers with the ability to “freeze” their credit reports to guard against identity theft (Ch.63 of 2006)

• Require all businesses or business persons to take detailed steps when disposing of personal information (Ch. 65 of 2006)

• Allow the attorney general to bring civil action against “phishers.” A phisher is someone who sends an email falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to obtain private information to be used for identity theft (Ch. 64 of 2006).

Call Assemblywoman Weinstein’s Community Office for brochures on protecting your identity.

WEINSTEIN FIGHTS FOR LOWER
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

To fight increasing prescription drug costs, Assemblywoman Weinstein sponsored Bill A6336 which would lower the costs of prescriptions for many seniors and improve access to necessary medication through the creation of a State Drug Assistance Board. The Board would organize bulk purchases and negotiate rebates with drug suppliers. It is hoped that the State Senate will also pass this bill.

WEINSTEIN COMBATS MEDICAID FRAUD

Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein was a leading member of the Assembly/Senate conference committee that drafted new laws to combat Medicaid fraud. The Legislature created a Medicaid Inspector General and established new crimes to prevent and punish Medicaid fraud. Unfortunately, the Senate refused to include Weinstein’s “False Claims Act” that would encourage whistleblowers to come forward with instances of Medicaid fraud and strengthen the Attorney General’s ability to recover fraudulently obtained Medicaid payments.

WEINSTEIN PROTECTS PUBLIC RETIREES’ BENEFITS

Assemblywoman Weinstein is leading the fight to prevent reduction of health benefits for public service retirees. With the passage of her bill A9452 into law, the reduction of health benefits for school district retirees is now prohibited. Additionally, Weinstein sponsored Assembly Bill 9722 which would expand the protection of health benefits to all public sector retirees. Unfortunately, this bill was vetoed by the Governor.

SAVINGS AT THE PUMP AND AT HOME

In the wake of gas prices that have soared past $3 per gallon, the Legislature enacted the “Gas Capping” law to cap state sales tax on gasoline and reduce residential energy costs. This new law:

• Only collects tax on the first $2.00 of gas, capping the tax at 8 cents per gallon.

• Fines gas stations up to $5,000 per incident, per day, if they neglect to pass savings on to consumers.

• Provides consumers with a tax credit for the purchase of home heating fuel oil that contains biodiesel fuel.

• Allows NYC to reduce or eliminate its sales tax on residential energy.

• Provides a refundable personal income tax credit up to $500 for the cost of replacing a home heating system with an Energy Star unit.