First, the NY State Senate was able to ramrod this tax down on the taxi drivers because our industry does not have a strong lobby capability and/or negotiation advantages of such issues via a strong union. Thus, the state senate was able to attempt to balance a never ending failing MTA budget on the backs of the taxi drivers.

Second, where is the logic of connecting the MTA workers with taxi drivers! Taxi drivers do not come anywhere close to possessing the salary, security and fringe benefits of the majority of MTA workers; benefits that, I may add, are paid for by taxes and other regulatory budgetary means consistent with existing NY State and City laws. Where is the link or connection between the MTA workforce rules as they relate to the Fair Labor Standards Act and compensation and the taxi driver? MTA workers are paid excellent overtime wages after 8 hours of work in a day. There is no equity between MTA workers and NYC taxi drivers with regard to such regulations and fringe benefits; however, the state senate deemed it appropriate to impose what I believe is an unjust, and in fact an Unconstitutional tax on all NY City taxi passengers to the determent of the taxi driver. I will not repeat here that this tax is taking away deserving tips from the drivers as that has already been expounded upon in earlier issues of the Taxi Insider.

Third, this is just the beginning of further Taxi Tax increases in the future. Recently, news reports are identifying additional cost savings and reductions that in all probability will have to be imposed on the MTA because of projected budgetary defects. You can bet that the 50 cent Taxi Tax will be looked at again either now