MTA BAILOUT SET FOR PASSAGE IN ALBANY; ROCKLAND LEGISLATORS OPPOSED by Ken Mahoney

MTA BAILOUT SET FOR PASSAGE IN ALBANY; ROCKLAND LEGISLATORS OPPOSED by Ken Mahoney

State legislators were set to vote today on the MTA bailout bill. Legislative leaders and Governor David Paterson reached a deal on the controversial measure yesterday – the most contentious issue being the proposed Payroll Mobility Tax. That would require employers in the MTA region, including Rockland County, would be taxed an additional 34 cents per one-hundred dollars of payroll. Both the State Senate and Assembly were expected to approve the two-and-a-quarter billion-dollar package over the objection of Rockland legislators. Both Democrat-controlled chambers are dominated numerically by legislators from New York City, which arguably benefits most from the bailout plan.