Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I – Merrick) today called for constituents in his 19th Assembly District and throughout New York to sign an online petition calling for the governor to rescind the mandate requiring all motorists renewing their registration to get new license plates. In accordance with the Fiscal Year 2009-10 Budget, vehicle owners will be forced to pay a $25 fee if they re-register after April 1, 2010. The fee affects all vehicles including cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles and ATVs.

“Since its passage last spring, I have been telling my constituents that I voted against Governor Paterson’s budget because it raised a multitude of taxes and fees to pay for a $10 billion increase in spending,” said Assemblyman McDonough. “For months I have been calling on the governor to order the legislature back into session so that we can take a scalpel to the budget and trim the needless fat. When we do finally come back, I hope that legislators on both sides of the political aisle will see the need to cut spending and curtail the need for taxes and fees which are burdening our already cash-strapped citizens.”

In addition to the 66% rise in cost of license plate renewal, Assemblyman McDonough also has fought against the 25% increases in driver license and vehicle registration renewal fees in the 2009-10 budget. Assemblyman McDonough also has been vocal in his opposition to the additional $16 MTA fee on driver license renewals and the $50 MTA fee on vehicle registration renewals on top of the previously mentioned 25% increases, which were a result of the $2.8 billion Metropolitan Transportation Authority bailout passed this past June.

To join the online petition against the $25 license plate renewal fee, visit http://www.nonewplates.com/