OntheWilderSide

The only way that the Green Party can regain ballot status in NY is to get 50,000 votes for their Governor candidate in 2010. This opportunity comes only once every four years, and it only applies to the Governor’s race. Gaining ballot status will enable the Green Party to run more peace candidates, more single-payer candidates, more anti-fracking candidates, and more sustainable energy candidates. The last time that the Green Party of New York State had ballot status it set the record for running the most Green candidates of any state.

Democrats Protect Wealthy New Yorkers In Late State Budget

Lawmakers Fail to Create Jobs, Help the Unemployed

Howie Hawkins, the Green Party of New York candidate for Governor said:

State lawmakers passed a four-month-late state budget that cut essential services for many New Yorkers while raising taxes on low and middle income New Yorkers. There was a bi-partisan effort to protect Wall Street and wealthy New Yorkers, continuing the tradition of balancing the state budget on the backs of New York’s most vulnerable residents.

In the midst of the greatest economic collapse since the Great Depression, lawmakers slashed funding for job programs for low-income New Yorkers, gutted the Environmental Protection Fund and failed to pass modest improvements to the state’s unemployment insurance program. As Governor, my first priority will be to enact a Green New Deal that guarantees a living wage job to all New Yorkers.

Hawkins campaigned yesterday with consumer advocate Ralph Nader, calling for the state to solve the budget deficit by halting the $16 billion rebate of the Stock transfer tax to Wall Street speculators. Instead the state imposed a sales tax on clothing while rejecting a tax on hedge funds.

“Wealthy New Yorkers and corporate America are well served by the Democratic and Republican parties. It is time for the rest of us to join with the Green Party in fighting for living wage jobs, strong environmental protection, affordable housing, and fair taxes,” added Hawkins.

Filed under: 3rd party, Action Alert!, activism, Ecology, economy, election, Election 2010, elections, Environment, governor, grassroots democracy, Green Party, nature, new york, New York State Politics, News, politics, Press Release, Ralph Nader, third party, US Politics Tagged: | environmental protection fund, great depression, jobs, jobs program, low income, state budget, stock transfer tax, vulnerable, wealthy