Fake pro lauds tax cut

ALBANY — While Gov. Cuomo has argued the Republican tax reform plans under discussion in Washington would be a death blow to New York, a low-level member of his tax department feels otherwise.

The employee, Seth Bied, signed on to a letter featuring more than 100 economists from across the country saying the GOP tax reform plan would be good for America.

The letter was signed by 137 people, including James Miller, who was White House budget director under Ronald Reagan, other economists and academics.

Bied was described as being from the New York State Taxation and Finance Department. But he is not an economist. He’s a $31,000-a-year office assistant.

Tax agency spokesman James Gazzale said Bied explained he regularly receives petitions from the group that sent out the letter, though he didn’t remember signing the one in question.

Gazzale added that the letter Bied signed “in no way represents the views of this agency.”