Letter in today's paper on the Energy Tax

GOP unfair to blame Dems for taxes, deficit

It was just a matter of time before the Dutchess County Republican Committee would blame state Sen. Terry Gipson, D-Rhinebeck, for the energy tax. In the March 16 edition of the Journal, a Republican from Dover blamed Gipson for not raising taxes (“Gipson partly to blame for energy tax”). No kidding, the local Republicans are now blaming a Democrat for not raising taxes.

The Republicans, with a super majority Dutchess County Legislature, passed the energy tax and it was signed by Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. Now the Dover letter writer cites expiration of the mortgage tax as the reason. But we have a Republican Legislature, Republican county executive, Republican Assemblyman Kieran Lalor and Republican Sen. Greg Ball. The Republicans run Dutchess County, not the Democrats.

Dutchess County Republicans will do anything to get away from this. In fact, the mortgage tax brought in around $5 million in revenue. Why did the Republicans set the energy tax to collect more than $8 million in revenue? How were they going to make up that additional $3 million? The Republicans even touted that the energy tax would only cost taxpayers $60 a year. Well, I got my first oil bill and the tax was $58. I fill my tank 3 times a year. Do the math. Republicans have stuck it to taxpayers once again. Blaming Democrats and mandates when we’ve had a Republican-run state Senate for most of the last 100 years is just shameful.

Ozzy Albra

Fishkill