Not the way to help the middle class

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And let’s not forget about getting the budget deficit under control. There is a way to do it without increasing taxes.

Obama doesn’t seem to get it. He said, “I’ll lay out additional proposals that are fully paid for and fully consistent with the budget framework both parties agreed to just 18 months ago … Let me repeat: Nothing I’m proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime.”

This makes little sense. How is the president going to put forth additional spending proposals that are already paid for and don’t add to the federal deficit?

Obama’s proposals are going to give me as much agita as the great Nassau County rematch: Suozzi vs. Mangano, Part II.

Former Gov. Al Smith once said, “Let’s look at the record!” So let’s have at it. After eight years as county executive, Tom Suozzi left Ed Mangano with a $300 million deficit. While in office, Suozzi doled out patronage jobs, raised property taxes and created a deficit.

And let’s not forget that it was the Suozzi administration that appointed Martin Scheinman, the arbitrator who gave the district attorney’s investigators 40 percent raises overnight, giving one man a miraculous $190,000 salary.

Since taking office, Mangano has frozen property tax rates for three straight years, eliminated over $290 million in wasteful spending, cut county patronage jobs virtually in half and done the impossible — created a budget surplus in Nassau County.

Suozzi’s first challenges will come from within his own party. Democratic challenger Adam Haber has accused Suozzi of hiking taxes and brokering shady backroom political deals.

Ed Mangano should handily win this race because he has a proven record of fighting for the taxpayers of Nassau County. But mark my words, it will be a rematch for the history books.

Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column? ADAmato@liherald.com.

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