GOP boss in ‘never!’ land on tax hikes

ALBANY — With Mayor de Blasio and other Democrats calling for tax hikes on the wealthy, the head of the state Senate Republicans has all but ruled it out.

“We don’t want to raise taxes — we don’t,” Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan told the Daily News. “We don’t think we need to, nor do we have to. With everything going on — discussions in Washington and everything else — raising taxes would be the worst thing possible.”

The 56-year-old Suffolk County Republican added that goes for fees as well.

Flanagan (photo inset) said several months ago he was considering a 2018 run for governor. But as he gears up for his third full legislative session as majority leader, he has given up on the idea to focus solely on his current job.

“I truly believe the best role that I can play is advancing what our interests are in terms of the Senate Republican conference,” he said. “I don’t just want to maintain a majority, I want to grow it.”

Heading into the crucial 2018 elections in which control of the Senate is at stake, many GOP senators believe it would be political suicide to move off their opposition to tax hikes. “We spend well above $150 billion of taxpayers’ money. People are taxed to death,” Flanagan said.

Hiking taxes, he said, could lead to a further population exodus from the state, which would lead to less revenue.

“Everything we want to focus on is how do we stabilize taxes and, more importantly, how do we reduce them?” he said.

De Blasio has reiterated his call for a tax hike on millionaires to help fund the cash-starved mass transit system. Previously, he proposed a millionaires’ tax to help fund prekindergarten. Insisting the rich can afford to pay more, de Blasio has also called for the imposition of a mansion tax on expensive homes in the city.

“The mayor clearly wants to raise taxes on anyone who walks and stands vertical and breathes,” Flanagan said. “Mayor de Blasio (proposed) the millionaires’ tax to pay for everything in the free world. That’s not what we want.” Many Assembly Democrats and progressive activists also want to raise taxes on the wealthy. And business leaders have expressed fear that Gov. Cuomo could open the door to higher taxes as he is pulled more to the left by his party in his own reelection year. Cuomo aides have dismissed the notion, but the governor did raise the specter of possible tax increases to cover potential serious cuts in federal funding.

Flanagan argues there are other ways to find savings, including keeping state spending increases at the 2% level Cuomo has called for.

He also talked about improving the business climate by slashing regulations, reforming the unemployment insurance program, overhauling the tax code and reviewing all spending.

The Senate leader has been criticized by some Republicans for being too close to the governor. He said the two have a good working relationship, but argues the Senate GOP pushes back when it doesn’t agree with him. “I don’t ever mince words with the governor,” he said. “I always tell him what I think.”

Flanagan and his members also have to contend with the pressure by liberals who want to see a group of eight breakaway Democrats led by Bronx Sen. Jeffrey Klein quit their leadership coalition with the GOP and form a new one with the mainline Dems.

“I am eminently confident that not only do I enjoy a good relationship with Jeff Klein and his conference. I see that, as a minimum, remaining stable and growing,” he said.

Flanagan says he knows the Democrats will continue to try and tie the state GOP to the highly unpopular Trump and the national Republicans, but he feels his members will win based on their histories at home.

“Of course we pay attention, but our members are extraordinarily astute and adept in their own ways,” he said. “Our members have clearly delivered.”