|| News ||
Page 1 of 1

Income Tax Fairness Stripped from N.Y. Budget Bill


RubenDiazTaxesx390.jpg

A proposal that would have granted married same-sex couples in New York the ability to file state income taxes jointly was stripped from a budget bill Tuesday following opposition by antigay Democrat Ruben Diaz, Sr.

Governor David Paterson and lawmakers have been locked in negotiations for weeks, trying to pass a budget that is more than three months overdue. Now it appears that a $950 million revenue bill, one of the key remaining pieces, will be approved around midnight this Thursday, with amendments including the deletion of the income tax equality proposal.

According to the Associated Press, “Gone is a provision that would have allowed gay couples who were legally married in another state to file joint income tax returns in New York, where gay marriage is illegal. That's a concession to Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr. of the Bronx, an ordained minister who opposes gay marriage. He threatened to vote against the revenue bill if the measure was included and that would have defeated the bill, because the Republican minority was expected to continue voting in a bloc against the budget bills.”

Remarkably, Diaz framed his opposition as an attempt to spare same-sex couples the “insulting” invitation to file taxes together when the state does not allow them to legally marry. Of course, Diaz is one of the senators who voted against the marriage equality bill that failed by a wide margin in December. Watch his conversation with NY 1 below.

The language in the revenue bill originated in a bill introduced last week by gay assembly member Daniel O’Donnell. That bill would amend state tax code to fix a loophole and decouple state income tax status from federal income tax filing status, which does not recognize same-sex couples because of DOMA. New York recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions because of a 2008 executive order from Gov. Paterson.

“The problem is that the way the New York state tax code is written, you have to file the same status as on your federal tax return,” said O’Donnell in an interview with The Advocate last week. “Even if the senate managed to pass marriage in New York, which they did not, we would have faced the same problem.”

According to Liz Benjamin at State of Politics, O’Donnell plans to reintroduce an amended version of his bill this week.

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook. Page 1 of 1
Reader Comments
  • Name: Marion
    Date posted: 11/11/2010 11:14:42 AM
    Hometown: Hudson, NC

    Comment:

    When will our government ever learn; the higher income tax rates are and the more income tax business and individuals have to pay, the less money there is to have an economy. Big government and a strong economy is like oil and water. http://www.myowntax.com

  • Name: pepa
    Date posted: 7/1/2010 4:25:21 PM
    Hometown: surprise, az

    Comment:

    Kevin, stop being a drone and post the same comment over and over again.

  • Name: David Asset
    Date posted: 7/1/2010 2:09:57 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    NYC gays should be working night and day to unseat Ruben Diaz. Charlie Ramos is running against him and he is pro-LBGT equality. This is the most important race in New York in 2010, if you're gay because there will be equality for gays so long as that bigot Ruben Diaz is in the NY State Senate. Forget about contributing to Cuomo's campaign. He has enough money for his campaign. Contribute to the progressive challenger Charlie Ramos and unseat that zealous, religious homophobe Ruben Diaz.

  • Name: Kevin
    Date posted: 7/1/2010 4:05:24 AM
    Hometown: Nthld

    Comment:

    The gays in America are just too weak/soft. They are too comfy with what they have. Oh it's ok if they just step all over my rights. They "the bigots" out there are fighting their tooth and nail to block gay people to get their rights and what do gays American do?NOTHING...Just sit back and whine and whine....That's not going to change anything...Fight back, unite as one from coast to coast and fight back with all you have....Nothing is going to happen if you just sit back and whine all the time and no actions...The movie "Gay War" should be your inspiration. Trust me they "the Bigots" will not let up not even a minute....You need to sacrifice big to gain a right otherwise you gain nothing and wasting time....

  • Name: bma83
    Date posted: 6/30/2010 6:11:35 PM
    Hometown: Baltimore

    Comment:

    Bill, when people are being sarcastic they are usually trying to make a point. What point were you trying to make by your supposed sarcastic “I don't think blacks should ever have received the rights they have. Oh well. We screwed ourselves people”?

  • Name: pepa
    Date posted: 6/30/2010 5:45:17 PM
    Hometown: surprise, az

    Comment:

    Goes to show you how unfair liberal progressive policies like forced wealth redistribution can be totally bias against gay people. What irony. Just do ALL people a favor and just get rid off this income tax, it is immoral legal theft and it must stop.

  • Name: Pati
    Date posted: 6/30/2010 5:04:26 PM
    Hometown: Illinois

    Comment:

    @Carlos: I'm glad you're a fan of Civil Unions and Partnerships but I prefer EQUAL opportunities afforded to me and my family, not second class status. Good luck with that...

  • Name: Carlos
    Date posted: 6/30/2010 12:49:28 PM
    Hometown: Eagle Rock

    Comment:

    I'm a big fan of civil unions and domestic partnerships. Tax benefits and full legal rights should be granted for all relationships. Thats the solution that makes sense and should have been enacted as soon as civil unions and domestic partnerships were formed.....

  • Name: Bill
    Date posted: 6/30/2010 12:00:57 PM
    Hometown: Boston

    Comment:

    @dev I was being sarcastic. I know there are gay blacks and gay everything. You went right where I was hoping people would go. You pretentious mouthy little queen - get with the program.

  • Name: dev
    Date posted: 6/30/2010 11:55:01 AM
    Hometown: Palm Springs

    Comment:

    @bill your a fucking idiot, gays are not just white males. you're a stereotype, its easy for your to make outrageous statements about a group of people when they have someone that looks like them upholding discrimination. but it's not only blacks(and every other group of people in the U.S) who are discriminating against gay its also our own kind, so with your statement "I don't think blacks should ever have received the rights they have" , i guess gays should never receive equal rights since they also vote against our issues. grow up



Don't Miss
  • Best of Broadway Smash: Why You Will Love It

    Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, two of the producers of NBC’s new critically acclaimed musical series, explain why the backstage drama of creating a musical about Marilyn Monroe has mass appeal and why big stars like Anjelica Huston, Uma Thurman, Bernadette Peters, and Nick Jonas were eager to appear in it.

  • Best of Broadway How Broadway Does a Flea Market

    Find out why actress Kathleen Chalfant calls the annual Flea Market and Grand Auction in Times Square "the most glamorous flea market you've ever seen." It raised half a million dollars to fight HIV/AIDS.

  • Travel Slideshow Flag Gayest Cities in America, 2012

    It's no secret that megalopolises New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles have robust LGBT life — and we've even heard tell of little queer hoods like the Castro and P-Town. This isn't that list.

 
 
Advocate Subscribe Promo Banner 300x50
 
Follow Us Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterSubscribe to our RSS feedsDownload our app
Facebook Activity
 
1056 COVER X135 | ADVOCATE.COM
Today's Headlines