ALBANY — An upstate GOP lawmaker launched a mock survey this week mimicking Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new license plate design proposal.
Assemblyman Chris Tague (R-Schoharie) is calling on New Yorkers to “choose the license plate that they believe most closely resembles Gov. Cuomo and his policies.”
“The license plate with the most votes will become the official license plate that will be nominated for Gov. Cuomo to personally adopt,” he wrote on the voting site featuring designs that read: “High Taxes – Cuomo’s NY,” “No New Jobs – We Almost Had The Amazon HQ,” “Corruption – Cuomo’s NY,” and “Luv Crime – Welcome Illegals and Criminals.”
“Obvious trolling aside, the subtitle of this plate doesn’t make much sense,” E.J. McMahon of the conservative Empire Center for Public Policy quipped.
“Upstate GOPer is unhappy the Amazon mega-deal didn’t go through? A big subsidy for Jeff Bezos in Queens would have been good for … Schoharie? Or just taunting Cuomo with the word ‘Amazon’?”

Polls close Friday, Sept. 13.
Cuomo revealed plans to revamp the state’s official plates last week, announcing a statewide survey that ends Sept. 2.

All plates 10 years and older will need to be replaced by April 1, 2020, for a $25 fee, plus an extra $20 if the owner wants to keep the old plate’s number.

Cuomo says cashless tolling technology cannot read the current “Empire Gold” plates and it’s costing the state.

His office has repeatedly defended the decision, claiming the $25 fee has been in statute since 2009.

Another lawmaker, GOP state Sen. Jim Tedisco (R-Glenville), conducted an analysis of state plates arguing the $25 fee will balloon into an estimated $70 million bonanza for state coffers over a two year period.

State license plates are currently manufactured by 150 inmates at the upstate-based Auburn Correctional Facility, making up to a $1.14 hourly wage.

Tedisco argues records show labor costs yield a maximum annual cost of $300,000 — and combined with the state’s two year contract with the company tasked with providing the materials to make the plates, would cost the state just under $5 million over that two year window.

“This administration has more angles than a geometry book to get into the pockets of taxpayers. This License Plate Tax is truly highway robbery for the over-taxed and over-burdened taxpayers of New York State in the form of a new $70 million tax,” he seethed, adding his estimate doesn’t even include the extra $20 taxpayers will foot if they choose to keep their old plates.

State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy launched a statewide digital ad campaign, arguing the law may mandate a plate fee, but it doesn’t say anything about returns.

“The plates also don’t come with an expiration date some people return their license plates sooner than later. This is a cash grab by Cuomo’s Democratic Party, he’s got holes to fill in other places,” he told The Post.

Several Democrat and Republican lawmakers are also slamming the fees and mandatory swap, introducing legislation of their own. 

GOP Sen. Rob Ortt (R-Tonawanda) has a bill that wipes the $25 fee and another, introduced by Democrat Angelo Santabarbara (D-Schenectady) bans the change if a driver’s plate is still in good condition.

“Some things are just too stupid to respond to,” Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi insisted, when asked about the criticism.