Bruce Blakeman proposes $35B New York income tax cut

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has unveiled a sweeping tax-cut proposal aimed at reducing New York's state income taxes by $35 billion. The plan, presented by the Nassau County executive, seeks to eliminate state income taxes for single filers earning up to $50,000 and for married couples earning up to $100,000. Blakeman noted that this would effectively remove income taxes for households in 45 of the state's 62 counties, providing significant relief to many rural and middle-income communities.

Blakeman's campaign framed the proposal as a response to the high cost of living in New York, criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul for making the state unaffordable. In response, Hochul's campaign dismissed the plan as “half baked” and pointed to Blakeman's record on property taxes.

In a separate political development, Blakeman has joined Jewish leaders in opposing a state-backed plan to transition Brooklyn's Maimonides Medical Center into the city's public hospital system. He argued that the facility should remain a privately-run institution and vowed to stop the takeover if elected governor.