Cuomo is staying quiet about the proposed 5-cent ‘bag tax’

ALBANY – Gov. Cuomo said Wednesday that the law banning the 5-cent bag fee that New York City wants to impose on shoppers is a tricky issue — without indicating if he’ll approve or kill it.

“This is a complicated issue,” the governor told reporters in Schenectady on Wednesday.

Both the Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly passed legislation that would ban the City Council from imposing the fee for at least a year.

The bill is now on Cuomo’s desk.

If the governor doesn’t sign it, shoppers in the five boroughs will begin paying 5 cents for each plastic or paper bag starting Feb. 15.

Cuomo gave no hint which way he’s leaning.

“There are real environmental concerns but there are also real economic concerns,” he said.

“You charge people five cents for every plastic bag — it doesn’t sound like much – but it adds up, especially for people who are in tough economic times. Then you give the money to the grocery store. Why? So, there are a lot of complicated issues we’re going through and we’ll have a decision soon.”