Dear Editor:

Recently, one of my constituents questioned whether New Yorkers will pay too much and get too little out of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (See Opinion, April 1) In the weeks since this bill passed, I have held several workshops and meetings for Long Island residents, businesses and local officials to make sure we are all informed on how to best take advantage of this new infusion of federal funds. I do believe the recovery bill can do great things for New York State and Long Island, and I am making it my mission to organize and equip Long Islanders with the tools to put these funds to work.

But this constituent raises another important point about taxes. New Yorkers feel like they get hit hard by our tax code. Because of our high cost of living, middle class New Yorkers are often taxed as though they are wealthy. That's why Reps. Nita Lowey, Jerry Nadler and I introduced the Tax Equity Act of 2009. This legislation will adjust our federal tax code to account for the actual cost of living in high cost areas like Long Island.

New Yorkers pay some of the highest housing, food and gas costs in the country, not to mention our property taxes. Our plan for a regional cost of living adjustment will bring fairness back to the tax system and lessen the burden on New York's middle class and working families.

For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Tax Equity Act of 2009, visit my website http://israel.house.gov. Congressman Steve Israel Second District, New York