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LWV League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
Onondaga County, NY November 7, 2006 Election
Smart Voter

Albert A. Stirpe, Jr.
Answers Questions

Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 121

 
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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Syracuse and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. "007" accounts, better known as member items, account for 200 million in tax payer dollars doled out to individual legislators each year. These pork barrel funds are not covered under New York’s Freedom of Information Laws. Do you support efforts to make the distribution of these funds public record? Why or why not?*

Yes, I believe distribution of member items should be public record. It's often said that the best disinfectant is sunshine, and I believe that all aspects of government should have full transparency. That is the best way to ensure full accountability of all elected officials.

2. What is your view of the STAR tax rebate program? Would you support it as is; increase it; or do away with it altogether? Is it a fair and equitable method of easing the school tax burden for al New Yorkers?*

Increasing the program would only require raises in some other taxes to make up for the loss in revenue. We should keep the program as is until we can work out a method of truly lowering the overall per capita tax burden on the citizens of New York. While the STAR program has provided some relief for residential taxpayers, it appears that school districts actually have raised taxes more than they would have otherwise during the existence of the program, offsetting about one-third of the savings (this according to a study from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University).


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 18, 2006 18:28
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