Schumer Helps Businesses That Subsidize Workers' Commuting Costs

Here in New York, if you have to commute to work (and this applies to most workers) your employer can pay for your commute costs, whether it is by driving or on the subway. The M.T.A. makes MetroCards specifically for this purpose. It has always been a smart decision to enroll in this program as a boss and definitely as an employee. Now thanks to Senator Schumer, the deal is even nicer for those that take the bus or subway to work.

From The NY Daily News:

The politicians keep saying the economic crisis is also an opportunity. It certainly was for Chuck Schumer today, who managed to stick a break for transit riders into the Senate’s stimulus bill.

Basically, Schumer’s amendment would double the break employers get for subsidizing the commuting costs of workers, from $115 a month to $230.

Oddly, they already got a $230 pay roll tax break for help out drivers, so doubling it for straphangers is especially sweet for the Park Slope senator.

This is great news, not only for the tax break, but the relief it will have and further justification to implement one specific part of the Ravitch Plan. That is, to institute an additional payroll tax on employers so that we can keep the subway running and the M.T.A. fiscally afloat. If Schumer's language is passed within the economic stimulus bill, there should be no objections whatsoever to the additional payroll taxes.