Assemblyman Pete Lopez and county clerks from throughout the region have called on Governor Paterson to made good on his promise to rescind the plan to require new license plates.
The plan, which was enacted as part of the 2009-10 state budget, has been facing stiff resistance from state and local officials and the public.
“The Governor’s commitment to rescind the license plate mandate is a good sign, but we need to keep up the pressure to make sure the promise is kept. The next step is to bring legislation forward to amend the state budget and remove the provision,” said Assemblyman Lopez, who hosted a series of rallies against the DMV fee increases throughout our region along with county clerks, tax advocacy groups and concerned residents.
The first set of DMV fee hikes went into effect in September and included fee increases on driver licenses.
Assemblyman Lopez, who is a former county clerk, also has contacted the Governor and legislative leaders about rescinding the entire plan.
“I know first hand the effect these unnecessary increases will have on motorists and on our economy. It has been my belief, and many of those I represent share this belief, that these DMV hikes are symbolic of the irrational thinking in Albany that endlessly increasing fees and taxes will solve all our problems. Taxpayers have had enough, and now they’re fighting back,” he said.
Schoharie County Clerk Indy Jaycox added, “I want to reiterate the hardships that everyone is having now. Fees already were increased in September and to propose another increase in April would have just created another hardship. People are being laid off; it’s a difficult time to hit people with this right now. It sounds like the Governor is listening to us and at least he is trying to find other ways to hold this off.”