In response to stories in the New York Daily News and New York Post about Carl Paladino (the tea-party Republican candidate for New York governor) naming me to a post-election tax-cut commission, let me just clarify: I favor lower taxes.

And while I have never met Mr. Paladino, if he asked me to be part of this exercise, I would be happy to do so.

Several years ago I chaired a tax-reform commission for Governor Pataki.

Our flat-tax-reform proposal was never used. I’d be happy to go back at it for Paladino if he wins.