NATION IN BRIEF : NEW YORK : Hike in Taxes, Fees Voted by Assembly

The New York State Assembly in Albany passed $1.4 billion in tax and fee increases plus $1 billion in other revenues. But because one Democratic maneuver to pass the package violated traditional parliamentary procedures, the Republicans said the taxes could be overturned in court. The bill raises taxes by $1.27 billion and fees by another $120 million, saves $400 million by deferring October’s scheduled income tax cut and gains another $500 million through “one-shot” actions, such as selling a Manhattan highway right-of-way to the state Thruway Authority.