Is Mayor DeBlasio's Pre-K Tax on Rich a Front For Higher Union Raises

  The New York Post reports that The clash between Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio over pre-K funding is turning into an all-out brawl, with allies of the governor claiming the mayor is pushing higher taxes to fund new contracts for his labor buddies. One source close to Gov. Cuomo told the post that “We’re hearing chatter from people that de Blasio wants to raise the income tax on the rich to use it any way he wants — including paying for labor contracts and raises.” The source also said that it is the union backed Working Families Party, allied with Mayor deBlasio who are pushing the mayor to get the tax hike and opposes the governor’s $2 billion proposal to cut property, business and estate taxes 

  De Blasio is pushing to raise city income taxes on those earning $500,000 or more to generate $530 million a year to cover pre-kindergarten classes for all kids. To do so Albany elected officials in the State Assembly and Senate would have to approve a tax hike in an election year. Cuomo countered with the $2.2 billion statewide offer to fund Pre-K which Mayor de Blasio said that Cuomo’s offer of $2.2 billion statewide for five years was both inadequate and unreliable. 

  Aides to Mayor de Blasio insisted there’s no secret agenda for the added tax revenues. “For more than a year, Mayor de Blasio has been 100 percent clear that this tax increase will only be used to fund pre-K and after-school programs for New York City kids. 

  After seeing Cuomo’s pre-K plan, even some Democrats from the city say they are less inclined to align themselves with de Blasio. You can view the entire New York Post article here.