Barnini Chakraborty reports for Fox News that the Republican tax plan was announced Nov. 2, and it "trims deductions for state and local taxes." The plan limits the deductibility of local property taxes to $10,000 and eliminates the deduction for state income taxes. Some New York House Republicans, such as Lee Zeldin, immediately denounced the plan for raising taxes on New Yorkers. Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) released a long statement Nov. 2 that seemed to support the tax plan, saying it does not give large tax breaks to the rich at the expense of the middle class. But he also said, "I continue to be concerned regarding the impact on New York state due to the elimination of state tax deductibility." Faso voted against the tax plan framework last week, though Democrats in the U.S. House noted he waited until the measure had enough votes to pass before casting his no vote. Read the story at Fox News and Faso's full statement on the WGXC Newsroom.

Rep. John Faso's full statement on the Republican tax plan:

Every worker, family, and small business owner knows our tax code does not work, is too complicated, and forces them to send more of their money to Albany and Washington, D.C. than they should. My goal for tax reform is to get our economy moving again, increase worker paychecks, incentivize small business investment and ensure New York families are better off. The plan released today begins that process by lowering the tax rates and expanding the tax brackets, doubling the standard deduction to $24,000 for married couples, maintaining the ability to deduction charity donations, mortgage interest and a portion of your property taxes. I remain concerned about the elimination of the deduction for state income taxes and will continue to advocate for such a policy and ensure this plan works for New York middle class families.

In the 19th Congressional District, approximately 32% of tax filers itemize deductions, typically for mortgage interest, charitable donations and state and local taxes. With the doubling of the standard deduction for married couples to $24,000, I expect a reduction in the number of taxpayers who chose to itemize deductions if this plan was adopted. In addition, the plan raises the Child Tax Credit from $1000 per child to $1600 per child while also providing a $300 credit for each parent and non-child dependent. These changes will save families money.

I also recognize that there will be attacks that this plan is only to help the “rich” and nothing can be further from the truth. The highest income earners will continue to face the highest taxes and the plan maintains the top tax bracket. Democrat critics need to revise their class warfare playbook as most benefits accrue to middle class taxpayers and small businesses.

Today’s plan also allows American businesses to compete in the global economy on a level playing field by reducing the corporate rate from 35% to 20% to bring the US into range of other industrialized nations that our workers are competing against. The plan would also help US corporations to bring profits home from overseas (repatriation) that will lead to more investment and jobs in the United States. Again, more corporate investment will mean more US jobs and higher paychecks.

Changes of this magnitude will of course be controversial and as I review the details of the legislation and work with my colleagues, I encourage everyone to learn how these changes could impact them and their family specifically and not rely on the rhetoric and attacks they will be hearing from all sides. I am committed to helping New York families and businesses throughout this process and as such I continue to be concerned regarding the impact on New York state due to the elimination of state tax deductibility. Albany’s high taxes already are forcing families and businesses to leave our state and I believe that we cannot accelerate this trend as a result of changes to the federal tax code – we all know two wrongs do not make a right. As I work to lower taxes for middle class families and small businesses at the federal level and allow New Yorkers to compete in the global economy, I would hope Governor Cuomo would look at ways to reform the state’s tax and spending and not just attack the work we are doing to lower taxes for middle class families.

Melanie Lekocevic reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Route 9W will close Nov. 5 in Ravena as a Lafarge stack is demolished at 8 a.m. The main road in Ravena will close at 7:30 a.m. around the plant, with detour signs posted. The noise of the explosion is expected to be heard throughout the town, and CSX will also halt railroad traffic at that time. The Lafarge cement plant completed a $400 million renovation project earlier this year and built a new stack that is working. If the explosion goes as planned, Route 9W will reopen to traffic at 8:45 a.m. Read the full story in HudsonValley360.com.

Camdyn Ames reports for Upstate Sports Zone that Ichabod Crane Boys Varsity soccer team beat the Schalmont Sabres 2-0 the the Section 2 Class B championship Oct. 31. This is the second year in a row that the Ichabod Crane team won the Section 2 Class B championship. The Ichabod Crane Riders will play Ogdensburg Free Academy at 1 p.m. Nov. 4th at Colonie high school in the New York State Regional playoffs. Read the full story in Upstate Sports Zone.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Thu., Nov. 2 (6:11). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media one incumbent and three newcomers are facing off to fill the two available seats on the Catskill Town Board. Incumbent Jared Giordiano and newcomer Dawn Scannapieco are running on the Republican and Conservative lines; Margaret Tomlinson and Heather Williams are running on the Democrat and Growth and Progress lines. Giordiano is a lifelong resident of Catskill. He is employed as the used car manager at RC Lacy in Catskill. He also serves as the vice president of the Town of Catskill Republican Club. Scannapieco is a lifelong resident of Catskill. She is the principal of Cahill Elementary School in the Saugerties school district. Tomlinson is a self-employed writer. She has lived in Catskill for two years. Williams is a lifelong resident of Catskill. She is the owner and operator of Pippy's Hotdog Truck, based in Palenville. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Kate Seckinger is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media four candidates are competing to fill two open seats on the Chatham Town Board. Highway superintendent Joseph Rickert, and town clerk and tax collector Beth Anne Rippel, both incumbents, are running unopposed. Newcomer Michael Blasl and incumbent Henry Swartz Jr. are running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines; incumbent John Wapner and newcomer Ken Weldon are running on the Democract and Chatham Citizens Party lines. Blasl has been a resident of Chatham for 13 years. He is a funeral director at French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home and has served as a Columbia County coroner for three years. Swartz is seeking his third consecutive term on the Chatham Town Board. A native of Niverville, he has lived in Chatham for 40 years. He is a plumber at his Valatie-based business Hatfield-Joyce Inc. Wapner hopes to be elected to his first, four-year term on the board. He has held a seat on the board since Chatham Town Supervisor Maria Lull appointed him to serve out the remainder of her term when she was elected supervisor in 2015. Wapner has lived in Chatham for 40 years. Weldon has been a resident of Chatham for nearly 20 years. He works as an interior designer and owns Weldon Design based out of East Chatham and is a board member of the Society of New Concord. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Kate Seckinger is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media voters in three Greene County towns have uncontested local elections next week. In Ashland, Town Supervisor Richard Tompkins, Town Board members Thomas Soule and Scott Tuttle, Town Clerk Justine Gulino, Superintendent of Highways Larry Tompkins and Tax Collector Virginia Arturi are running unopposed on the Republican line. Coxsackie Town Supervisor Richard Hanse, Town Clerk Bambi Totaling and Tax Collector Valerie Murphy are unopposed, running on the Republican and Conservative lines. Incumbent Coxsackie Town Board members Thomas Burke and Patrick Kennedy, as well as highway superintendent Lawrence Ross are also running unopposed, on the Democrat and Citizens lines. In Halcott, Town Supervisor Alan White, Town Justice Kenneth Williams, Town Board members Judith DiBenedetto and A. Innes Kasanof, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield and highway superintendent Russell Boulton are seeking re-election unopposed on both the Democrat and Republican lines. The only contested race on the ballot in all three towns is between Peter Crummey and Julian Shreibman for a seat on the State Supreme Court. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Pat Doxsey is reporting in the Daily Freeman Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro unveiled his proposed $480.1 million budget this week. The spending plan increases spending on programs serving youth and senior citizens and also proposes additional funding for mental health initiatives and programs for those with special needs. While the budget calls for a 2.8 percent spending increase, the property tax levy would decrease for the fourth consecutive year. Molinaro outlined a number of new initiatives in his budget signaling his administration’s priorities for 2018, including measures to combat the opioid epidemic, additional funds for Dutchess Community College and increased support for human rights programs, enhancements at the county's parks and programs for the special-needs community. The county Legislature will vote on a final plan in December. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY: A chance of showers between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 63. Thursday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 56.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:
FRIDAY: A chance of showers after 11 a.m. Partly sunny. High near 66. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around 38.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 51. Saturday night, a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 41.

Sunrise today: 7:31 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:46 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 10:15 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS and POLITICAL EVENTS for Thu., Nov. 2:
Please see the WGXC Community Calendar.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Wed. Nov. 1 (3:14). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)