'It's Outrageous': Nick LaLota Demands An End To NYC Commuter Tax

Forbes Breaking News

During a House Appropriation Committee markup meeting held before the Congressional recess, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) offered an amendment that would weaken the NYC Commuter Tax.

Transcript

00:00Is there any further amendment or discussion?

00:03Gentleman from New York, Mr. Lelota, is recognized for an amendment.

00:08Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, and I ask unanimous consent that it be considered read.

00:12Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentleman is recognized for remarks on his amendment.

00:18Thank you, Chairman.

00:19Taxation without representation isn't just a rallying cry for the birth of our great nation,

00:25but it's what Long Islanders are saying about Governor Hochul's ill-conceived commuter tax.

00:30My amendment would prohibit the Department of Transportation from using any federal funds

00:35to continue implementing New York's congestion pricing program.

00:39At Governor Hochul's direction, the MTA is taking funds from the commuter tax,

00:44$2,000 from suburban motorists per year, and using it to fund city subways and buses.

00:52That's taxation without representation, and it's a penalty on hardworking electricians,

00:57carpenters, cops, teachers, union workers, all who have committed no crime other than simply driving to work.

01:05These are the same commuters who are already getting crushed by sky-high tolls,

01:09the highest property taxes, and the highest state income taxes in the nation.

01:14My constituents are fed up with being treated like an ATM for the MTA,

01:19a bloated, unaccountable agency that has wasted billions of dollars and still can't get its finances in order.

01:27Hundreds of MTA employees are pulling in six-figure salaries,

01:31some even making more than our state's governor,

01:33while service continues to decline and commuters are asked to foot the bill.

01:37It's outrageous, and it's no wonder public trust in this agency is at an all-time low.

01:44And let's talk about the subway system they want more of my constituents to use.

01:48It's not safe.

01:49Violent crime is up.

01:51Fair evasion is rampant.

01:53Riders are being shoved in front of trains, assaulted,

01:55and in some horrific cases, even lit on fire.

01:59And the MTA wants to act like everything is just fine.

02:01If the MTA is serious about addressing its financial mess,

02:05maybe the folks sitting in offices collecting bloated six-figure salaries

02:09should be the first place they look to cut costs

02:12instead of reaching into the pockets of my hard-working constituents.

02:16My amendment prevents the federal government from subsidizing Governor Hochul's anti-suburban commuter tax.

02:23I urge my colleagues to support the amendment

02:25and send a message that working people should not be punished simply for going to work.

02:30I yield back, Chairman.

02:31I thank the gentleman.

02:34The gentleman from Arkansas is recognized to address the amendment.

02:38Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I do support the amendment.

02:41My good friend from New York did not make it through the U.S. Naval Academy

02:46without being a good listener.

02:48And I believe he has listened to his constituents

02:51and he speaks with passion and knowledge on this subject.

02:56His constituents do not need unfair and unnecessary tolls.

03:00So I urge a yes vote in support of his amendment, and I'd yield back my time.

03:06Thank the gentleman.

03:07The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized to address the amendment.

03:10Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

03:12Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

03:15While I understand that there are a lot of interests and opinions on this issue,

03:20I do not believe that it is this committee's job to insert ourselves into this issue.

03:28This amendment would preempt the authority of a state to work with its partners

03:33and make decisions at the local level.

03:35New York needs to work with its local and regional partners on this issue,

03:42prohibiting any state from exercising its authority to toll roadways

03:48as outside the purview of the federal government.

03:52And a top-down approach without regard for local, regional, and state decision-making

03:57would be outside the scope of this committee's jurisdiction.

04:00I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back.

04:06Thank the gentleman.

04:07The gentleman from New York, Mr. Espiot, is recognized to address the amendment.

04:11Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

04:13The New York City subway system guarantees that the economy of our country's greatest city

04:23and financial center continues to move forward.

04:29The New York City subway system is unlike any other subway system in the world.

04:34It's not like D.C. where a few lines, or even Paris, or any other country, European country.

04:40It is a massive system that contacts all five boroughs,

04:46and it guarantees that the world's greatest economy, the New York City economy, is healthy.

04:53And if the New York City economy is healthy, so goes the country, and I may add, so goes the world.

05:01The New York City subway system is joined at the hip with the success of our economy, our world economy.

05:10And as such, it should be funded.

05:14It's like your brake pads.

05:15You cannot go 100 miles, 100,000 miles in your car, and think that you're not going to change your brake pads.

05:23If you don't, it will take off your entire front end, and you may crash and die.

05:30And so it needs, it's a juggernaut.

05:33It needs investments.

05:34And the folks, our neighbors in Long Island, were already eliminated from the commuter tax decades ago.

05:43You used to pay a commuter tax decades ago, and we eliminated it.

05:48And yet they continue to use services in New York City.

05:52Police services.

05:54Ambulance services.

05:56They use public buses and public trains.

05:59They use municipal services that have a cost, and they don't contribute to it.

06:06They should be contributing to the services that they use on a daily basis.

06:12But most importantly, the New York City subway system needs upkeep and repair so that our economy is safe and healthy,

06:23so that workers, emergency workers that showed up during the pandemic could get to work on time.

06:30And in order for us to do this, we have to make capital investments.

06:35And yes, this congestion pricing model has witnessed great success.

06:43You cannot disagree that there is no longer the gridlock that held the city back.

06:49You cannot disagree that it hasn't been successful for the environment.

06:55Anybody that you speak to, whether they live in Suffolk County or Nassau County,

07:00will agree that it is now far better to get into the city than before,

07:04and that the environment is cleaner.

07:07And yes, you have to contribute.

07:09If you're using the services, fire services, police services, ambulance services,

07:16if you're taking the A train and you're taking the public bus, you've got to up some money.

07:21It's as simple as that.

07:23Otherwise, it's on the city's shoulder, and that's fundamentally unfair.

07:29We did get rid of your commuter tax years ago, and you paid a healthy sum for it.

07:35And we say, no, that's unfair.

07:37Let's eliminate that.

07:38But if you're going to use our services, you've got to pay up.

07:42You've got to pay up.

07:44Yes.

07:46Otherwise, we're subsidizing you.

07:49Many of your districts, fortunately, are very wealthy.

07:53You can subsidize yourself.

07:55Pay up just a little bit so you don't crash and burn because your brake pads are gone.

07:59I yield back, Mr. Chairman.

08:02I thank you, gentlemen.

08:04Are there additional members wishing to address the amendment?

08:08Seeing none, there's no further debate.

08:12The gentleman from New York is recognized for one minute to close.

08:15My good friend from New York says you've got to pay up.

08:17If you're using the services, you've got to pay up.

08:19And yet, his party's nominee for mayor of the city of New York wants it all to be for free.

08:24If you ride a bus, if you ride a subway, the person that he's supporting for that office,

08:29despite him saying if you use those services, you've got to pay up,

08:32the person he's supporting for that office thinks that it should be for free,

08:35which means that everybody else should pay for it.

08:38So I agree with you, sir, that if you're using the service, you should contribute to it.

08:42But that's the fundamental issue.

08:43The fundamental issue is my constituents who are driving the cars into Manhattan

08:48shouldn't be taxed, and their money, $2,000 a year,

08:53shouldn't be used to subsidize the thing they're not using.

08:56Your words were, if you're using it, you should pay for it.

08:59I agree with you.

09:00The people using the buses, the people using the subways,

09:03they should pay for it.

09:04That's not your party's plan in the five boroughs.

09:07Your party's plan is to put it back on the taxpayers, put it back on my constituents.

09:11My simple amendment does not take authority.

09:13The gentleman from South Carolina made the point that it takes authority.

09:16It does not take authority.

09:17The folks in New York can still make the decision to implement this.

09:22It just says that we don't have to pay for it.

09:24It says that taxpayers from California, New Mexico, and Texas, and all the states we represent,

09:30my amendment says that federal taxpayer dollars will not be used to subsidize a flawed system

09:37that requires motorists who don't use subways and buses to pay for those subways and buses.

09:44With that, Chairman, I urge support of this amendment, and I yield back.

09:48I thank the gentleman.

09:49The question's now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York.

09:53All those in favor say aye.

09:55Aye.

09:56All those opposed say no.

09:58No.

09:59The opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

10:02And the amendment is adopted.

10:09Gentleman's amendment's already adopted, but again, we'll ask.

10:13Why?

10:15Why?

10:16Are there sufficient number of hands for the vote?

10:26Okay.

10:26A sufficient number of hands having been raised, the clerk will call the roll.

10:33Mr. Adderholt.

10:36Mr. Aguilar.

10:37Mr. Aguilar, no.

10:39Mr. Alford.

10:41Mr. Alford, aye.

10:42Mr. Amaday.

10:43Mr. Amaday, aye.

10:44Mrs. Bice.

10:46Mr. Bishop.

10:48Mr. Bishop, no.

10:49Mr. Calvert.

10:51Mr. Carter.

10:53Mr. Case.

10:55Mr. Siscomani.

10:57Mr. Klein.

10:59Mr. Cloud.

11:00Mr. Cloud, aye.

11:02Mr. Clyburn.

11:03No.

11:03Mr. Clyburn, no.

11:04Mr. Clyde.

11:07Mr. Cole.

11:08Aye.

11:09Mr. Cole, aye.

11:10Mr. Cuellar.

11:11Aye.

11:12Ms. Dean.

11:15Mr. DeLauro.

11:16No.

11:16Mr. DeLauro, no.

11:18Mr. Diaz-Balart.

11:19Aye.

11:19Mr. Diaz-Balart, aye.

11:21Mr. Edwards.

11:23Mr. Elzey.

11:24Mr. Elzey, aye.

11:26Ms. Escobar.

11:27Ms. Escobar, no.

11:29Mr. Espaillat.

11:30Mr. Espaillat, no.

11:31Mr. Fleishman.

11:32Aye.

11:32Mr. Fleishman, aye.

11:33Ms. Frankel.

11:34Ms. Frankel, no.

11:36Mr. Franklin.

11:36Aye.

11:37Mr. Franklin, aye.

11:38Mr. Gonzalez.

11:40Mr. Guest.

11:43Mr. Harder.

11:43No.

11:44Mr. Harder, no.

11:46Dr. Harris.

11:46Aye.

11:47Dr. Harris, aye.

11:48Mrs. Henson.

11:48Aye.

11:49Mrs. Henson, aye.

11:50Mr. Hoyer.

11:52Mr. I-

11:53Mr. Hoyer.

11:56No.

11:57Mr. Hoyer, no.

11:58Mr. Ivey.

12:00Mr. Joyce.

12:02Mr. Joyce, aye.

12:04Ms. Captor.

12:07Mr. Lolota.

12:08Aye.

12:08Mr. Lolota, aye.

12:09Ms. Lee.

12:11Ms. Letlow.

12:12Ms. Letlow, aye.

12:14Mr. Levin.

12:14No.

12:15Mr. Levin, no.

12:17Ms. Malloy.

12:19Ms. Malloy, aye.

12:21Ms. McCollum.

12:23Ms. Ming.

12:24Ms. Ming, no.

12:25Mr. Molinar.

12:26Aye.

12:26Mr. Molinar, aye.

12:28Mr. Moore.

12:30Mr. Moore, aye.

12:31Mr. Morelli.

12:33Mr. Morelli, no.

12:34Mr. Morvan.

12:36Mr. Newhouse.

12:37Mr. Newhouse, aye.

12:38Ms. Perez.

12:40Ms. Pingree.

12:42Ms. Pingree, no.

12:43Mr. Pocan.

12:45Mr. Quigley.

12:46Mr. Quigley, no.

12:47Mr. Reschenthaler.

12:48Mr. Reschenthaler, aye.

12:50Mr. Rogers.

12:52Mr. Rogers, aye.

12:53Mr. Rutherford.

12:56Mr. Rutherford.

12:57Aye.

12:58Mr. Rutherford, aye.

12:59Mr. Simpson.

13:00Aye.

13:00Mr. Simpson, aye.

13:01Mr. Strong.

13:02Aye.

13:02Mr. Strong, aye.

13:03Mrs. Torres.

13:04Mrs. Torres, no.

13:05Mr. Underwood.

13:07Mr. Valadeo.

13:09Aye.

13:09Mr. Valadeo, aye.

13:10Ms. Wasserman-Schultz.

13:12Mrs. Watson-Coleman.

13:14Mrs. Watson-Coleman, no.

13:15Mr. Womack.

13:16Aye.

13:16Mr. Womack, aye.

13:17Mr. Zinke.

13:19Aye.

13:19Mr. Zinke, aye.

13:22Are there any other members wishing to record or change their vote?

13:26Gentle lady from Oklahoma.

13:30Mrs. Bice, aye.

13:31Gentleman from Arizona.

13:33Mr. Siskimani, aye.

13:34Gentleman from Alabama.

13:36Mr. Adderhall, aye.

13:38Gentleman from Virginia.

13:39Aye.

13:40Mr. Klein, aye.

13:41Gentleman from Georgia.

13:42Aye.

13:43Mr. Clyde, aye.

13:44Gentle lady from Florida.

13:45Ms. Wasserman-Schultz, no.

13:48Gentle lady from Pennsylvania.

13:50Ms. Dean, no.

13:51Gentleman from North Carolina.

13:55Mr. Edwards, aye.

13:56Gentleman from Hawaii.

13:58Mr. Case, no.

13:59Gentle lady from Illinois.

14:01Ms. Underwood, no.

14:03Gentleman from Wisconsin.

14:05Mr. Pocan, no.

14:06Gentleman from Texas.

14:08Mr. Carter, aye.

14:10Gentleman from Maryland.

14:11Mr. Ivy, no.

14:13Gentleman from Indiana.

14:15Mr. Mervan, no.

14:18Are there other members wishing to record or change their vote?

14:24Seeing none, the clerk will tally.

14:26Mr. Pocan, no.

14:27Mr. Pocan, no.

14:28Mr. Pocan, no.

14:29Mr. Pocan, no.

14:30Mr. Pocan, no.

14:31Mr. Pocan, no.

14:32Mr. Pocan, no.

14:33Mr. Pocan, no.

14:34Mr. Pocan, no.

14:35Mr. Pocan, no.

14:36Mr. Pocan, no.

14:37Mr. Pocan, no.

14:38Mr. Pocan, no.

14:39Mr. Pocan, no.

15:39On this vote, the ayes are 32, the nos are 23.

15:45The amendment is not adopted, or is adopted, excuse me.

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