A plan to financially shore up the poorly managed MTA and pass along the cost onto every wage earner in New York State is another example of a misguided and unfair tax policy that the public must protest and protest loudly. And it is another example of government doing something poorly. Instead of rewarding incompetence and financial mismanagement, the state should demand accountability and learn to run a public transportation system that is self sustainable.

What makes this proposal so offensive is that it is a compound plan that would hit taxpayers over and over again. In addition to what an individual New Yorker would be contributing through their payroll check, he or she would be contributing even more through the cost of Village, Town, and County taxes. Every school district, fire department and other public entity that writes checks to public employees would have to contribute to the plan, which means the MTA plan would become the tax that never stops giving.

While the proposal seems dead, the concept is not, and taxpayers have to ensure that a cashstrapped legislature looks to curtail spending first before looking to raid every pocket, wallet and purse when the going gets tough. Taxpayers and their families have to do it; government should do it too.