Earlier this week my friend and lawyer Jim Ostrowski drove to Albany and filed the mother of all lawsuits. The next day he invited me and a lot of others to attend a press conference at Niagara Square outside Buffalo City Hall. This lawsuit is about stopping all the corporate handouts that flood our state and empty its coffers every year.
In fact it is actually illegal for the state to do these handouts. The NYS Constitution actually reads: “The money of the state shall not be given or loaned to or in aid of any private corporation or association or private undertaking.” (NYS Constitution Article VII, statute 8.1)
Jim has 50 people named so far as plaintiffs in this class action suit and he is suing the Governor, State Majority and Minority Leaders, State Comptroller, State Attorney General and just about two dozen major corporations who have benefited from these illegal handouts. Jim Ostrowski and his plaintiffs are asking for the practice to be forcibly stopped if necessary and all the money be payed back to the people of this state.
Jim claims that if all the handouts from just this year were put back in the state coffers then the government could eliminate the state gasoline tax completely and there would be money left over. Jim is adding more plaintiffs to the suit and if you’re interested you can contact him at jameso@appollo3.com .
He is asking for $100 to join the lawsuit to cover legal expenses. His plan is simple. No matter what the government says in court all he has to do is read the statute in response. Their is no defence the government can claim. In fact the very law that the government claims and uses to allow them the ability to do these handouts was defeated at the ballot box years ago, but the government was giving out cash in anticipation of it being passed.
When the issue was defeated the government just ignored that fact and continued the practice. It’s Jim’s opinion that no-one has ever filed suit on this issue, not ever. I’m joining the gang and I expect to be a plaintiff soon. I hope each of you will join us in this very important election year issue. One hundred dollars isn’t that cheap but considering that when we win your taxes will drop dramatically, it’s worth it. Don’t let others pick up the slack that you should be doing yourself and if you have taken the position that our taxes are to high and want them lowered then this is the best way you can get involved.
I hope those of you who read this article aren’t just going to let others pay for something that will benefit you as well. Please think about joining us, if not for your sake then do it for your kids. Even if you send ten bucks to Jim it will help the cause greatly. Candidates can join the lawsuit for free and two or three already have.
