Matthew Hamilton and Rick Karlin are reporting in the Times Union a state Supreme Court justice has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a state teachers union in an attempt to force the state to scrap its property tax cap and tax freeze. In his ruling, Supreme Court Judge Patrick McGrath rejected each of the New York State United Teachers' claims, including that the tax mechanisms violate First Amendment rights by incentivizing compliance. The cap and freeze are designed to keep spending closer to the rate of inflation unless a supermajority of 60 percent votes for a greater increase. Certain cost increases are exempted from the overall calculation. The ruling is the second time McGrath has denied a NYSUT lawsuit against the cap. Read the full story in the Times Union.