Vito Fossella: “I think I speak for many, the AMT is a problem, and it is a problem for 52,000 people living in Staten Island and…”

“I think I speak for many, the AMT is a problem, and it is a problem for 52,000 people living in Staten Island and Brooklyn, many of whom, by the way, are small business owners, are those firemen and police officers and teachers who are working sometimes two, three and four jobs to put food on the table. We should abolish it. Abolish it once and for all, as has been suggested. Put simply, this is a wolf in sheep's clothing. We know what it will do. This is the first installment on what will be the largest tax increase in American history. My concern is more than just being an American citizen here. My equal concern is what will it do to New York's economy. People talk about how we are going to pay for firefighters and police officers. We know that this bill will punish investment, punish capital, kill jobs that in large part go to fund the salaries of those firefighters and police officers and teachers who do a great job every day. It is a clear distinction, a clear disagreement on where we are going. Kill this bill.”