Gotbaum: Give Iraq, Afghanistan War Vets A Break on Taxes
By ARI PAUL
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum wants to add veterans of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the list of those in the state who can receive property tax exemptions.

BETSY GOTBAUM: War vets deserve relief.

Eligible veterans of previous wars can receive up to a 15-percent exemption on their assessed property and can receive up to 25 percent off their taxes if they served in combat. They can receive a further benefit if they were injured in the line of duty.

Will Push Bill in Council

"When the bills pass in the Senate and the Assembly, I will then introduce legislation into the City Council to make these exemptions apply to all New York City vets," Ms. Gotbaum said during a City Hall press conference July 3. "In the meantime, I'm introducing a resolution in the Council to call on Albany to pass the state legislation."

City Council Veteran Affairs Committee Chairman Hiram Monserrate, a Marine veteran of the first Iraq war, vowed to push the bill at the city level.

"Active-duty service members and veterans have been hit especially hard by the recent economic downturn, foreclosures and employment," said Brian LaGuardia of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "This bill provides generous and meaningful benefit to those individuals who've chosen a life of service to their country."

State Sen. Eric Schneiderman is one of the lawmakers pushing the bill in Albany and joined Ms. Gotbaum last week. He was confident that his colleagues would pass the bill and that Governor Paterson would sign it.

'Got This Covered'

"There is no one I've spoken to in Albany who does not consider it an outrage that we haven't done this before," he said. "I think we have this covered."

During the press session, a reporter asked if the lawmakers were prepared to dramatically alter the language of the current law to include veterans of all wars, so that a similar amendment would not have to be made if the United States enters another conflict. Senator Schneiderman said changing the current law was the top priority. The reporter also inquired whether the lawmakers were interested in making the exemptions more generous, but Senator Schneiderman countered that the state did not have the funding yet to do that.

Upon further prodding by the reporter, Senator Schneiderman snapped back that she seemed to favor lower taxes and starting more wars.

"That's her agenda," he said.