Gov. Cuomo's Speech Drowned Out By 'Tax The Rich' Chants

Andrew Cuomo may be popular amongst most New Yorkers, but a very vocal group of protesters made their displeasure with the governor known.

Cuomo's speech to the Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators was interrupted by chants of "tax the rich," lead by City Councilman Charles Barron.

From the New York Daily News:

Cuomo received a warm welcome as he began to address the group, but within moments Barron (D-Brooklyn) did a Kanye West and stole the spotlight.

"Shame on you," Barron yelled at Cuomo after walking from the back of the Albany Convention Center to the front.

Unfazed, Cuomo responded, "How are you tonight, Charles? I can't see who it is, but I know who it is."

Barron then began yelling "tax the rich" and he was joined by a "small but vocal group in the crowd of more than 500" according to the Daily News.

Cuomo's proposed budget calls for significant cuts to education and medicaid and the governor is opposed to raising taxes to help close the state's $10 billion deficit. He wants to eliminate the so-called millionaire's tax, which applies to some of those making $200,000 or more.

Cuomo has also pushed for a cap on the state's property tax.

Before the governor's speech, Barron was critical of Cuomo's strategy to get the state back on solid financial ground.

"It is cutting us to the bone," Barron said. "Tax the rich. Don't come to the table saying the only thing you're going to do is cut."

Cuomo pointed to his sky-high approval ratings as evidence that Barron, and his small contingent of rabble-rousers, do not speak for most of the voting public.

"If you take that barometer, then you would say people accept the budget that I put out," Cuomo said.

The governor also explained his reasons for not wanting to impose tax hikes.

"I don't believe in increasing taxes," he said. "I believe it's counterproductive for the state. I believe more people will leave the state and you'll have less revenue."

Comments

[patches12]

01:32 PM on 02/23/2011

Good... the looney left turns on one of its own...

[Max19th]

08:51 PM on 02/22/2011

Hey J. Jonah Jamison--When are you going to get those pictures of spidey?

[tribilin219]

02:38 PM on 02/22/2011

Tell me again why we can't tax the people in this country that have it all? But yes we can tax the people who have little or nothing else to give?

[colpow]

10:38 AM on 02/22/2011

http://www.usuncut.org/

Now on US soil! MAKE THE RICH PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE!

[colpow]

10:35 AM on 02/22/2011

Cuomo's popularity notwithstanding, he still needs to TAX THE RICH!

[squat6971]

09:47 AM on 02/22/2011

Barron has no class, but he's totally correct in what he's saying.

Everyone gets hurt EXCEPT the wealthiest New Yorkers. Why is that?

[edlindaspy]

08:57 PM on 02/21/2011

There is an article on Bill Gates who says himself that government should be taxing the rich.

http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-state-income-tax-2010-9

Walker has given away more money than he will even save with this bill in the month he has been in office. He sent almost 1 billion in federal government money back in the last few weeks, money the state taxpayers are now on the hook for. He will lose millions in federal funds for transportation systems because of this bill but he could care less. He is waging a public vs private war in Wisconsin to the benefit of corporations. His plan is to privatize state government and he needs to get rid of the unions to do it. He has many corporate sponsors he is beholden to. 2/3 of all business in Wisconsin pay no taxes at all to the state but it is the worker's fault there is a deficit. NO WONDER PEOPLE ARE READY TO REVOLT!!!

[Chicago0048]

08:27 PM on 02/21/2011

I thought Cuomo was a different governor. He's being played. I hope he sleeps well at night knowing that he's taking food out of the mouths of the poor.

[1donewrong]

02:47 PM on 02/21/2011

Its the standard Dem solution tax the rich, how about cutting spending and insuring everyone has skin in the game. when young women keep having babies because they are the 'bread winners" in their families something is TERRIBLY wrong

[Douvie]

05:09 PM on 02/21/2011

Can't read, eh?

[1donewrong]

08:11 PM on 02/21/2011

you must have been part of the crowd with the liberal whine

[Bill M NY]

01:09 PM on 02/21/2011

We do need to raise some taxes in NY on the wealthy, but Barron is also wrong in that he wants to keep all of the bloated social programs in NY.

The problem comes with the s corp 'rich' that Barron wants to tax into oblivion. We are already taxed too high in NY as small businesses and large businesses too, to implement the 'millionaires' tax is ridiculous at this point at the current levels Barron is asking for.

Time to cut programs and means test the current ones, like CHP for the wealthy and the services offered by the state for medicaid. We can't pay for them, time to cut them. That also goes for the wealthy welfare, cut that too. Time to look at states that have profitable economies and stop trying to reinvent the wheel. We need to invest in alternative energy companies in NY, stop all the NIMBY foolishness, and get the economy rolling. Or the middle class can continue spending $1000 a month to support the bloated NY budget.

[Jazz88105]

12:53 PM on 02/21/2011

Councilman Barron is right we should tax the rich it goes beyond any logic that as the country is suffering it's worst downturn in years the Federal and State government give MILLIONS in tax breaks to the rich. The Governor should be ashamed.