Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Questionable Support For Senate Dems' MTA Plan
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 22, 2009
Modified Apr 22, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 22, 2009
Modified Apr 22, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The State Senate Democrats may have a new MTA bailout proposal that involves a payroll tax and a taxi dropoff surcharge, but it might not have the votes it need for passage! The NY Times' story is headlined Latest Plan for M.T.A. Is Foundering in Albany while the Daily News is, naturally, more blunt: Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's MTA plan might be dead on arrival.
Because the Democrats only have a 32-30 majority, they need every vote to pass the proposal. The Times spoke to four Democratic Senators—one from Nassau County, one from Suffolk County and two from Westchester County—who are opposed to the payroll tax and Republican minority leader Dean Skelos said the GOP Senators "[have] a real problem with the payroll tax." Sen. Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn) told the News, "There's no way [Smith] has the votes." Second Avenue Sagas breaks down some problems with the Senate plan.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told reporters, "If the Senate's plan is the only plan that they can pass that accomplishes that goal in the Senate, then we will look at it very seriously." Silver, who supported a plan that included tolling East River and Harlem River Bridges (an idea which some Democratic State Senators hated), also said that if the Senate plan failed, he'd put the plan with tolls up for a vote.
Tagged
MTA
MTA bailout
rescue plan
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .