It was essentially declared dead after the last round of budget talks. We're talking about the so-called millionaire's tax. But as our Nick Reisman reports, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is resurrecting the bill and gearing up for a battle at the Capitol.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- Though more than 93 percent of school district budgets were given the thumbs up by voters Tuesday, the state United Teachers Union and Assembly Democrats renewed calls the following day for keeping a tax on those who earn more than $1 million a year, reviving a failed proposal that was rejected by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senate Republicans during the budget battle.

"The polls show there is strong majority support for maintaining the millionaires tax. Voters know it's inherently unfair to reduce taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers already who will be getting an $8.5 billion windfall from the federal government," said Stephen Allinger, NYSUT Legislative Director.

Many of the budgets in the state's 697 school districts included deep cuts to staff and programs like art, music and physical education, a direct response to the more than $1.2 billion in cuts to education in the state spending plan.

Speaking in Lake Placid Wednesday, Cuomo said that was a sign that taxpayers want to control spending.

"We've reined in state spending. We now have to rein in local government and school district spending. And I think the message is communicated and I think you saw that in a lot of these school district budgets," Cuomo said.

Back in Albany, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos agreed with Cuomo, saying that the debate over the millionaires tax was "dead" and that the surcharge would hurt job creation.

Skelos said, "It's over with. There's not going to be a millionaire's tax, a so-called millionaire's tax passed."

Liberal lawmakers had hoped that once the full impact of the education cuts is felt, support will build for the tax. But with both the governor and Senate Republicans opposed to the idea, Assembly Democrats say the tax revival is mainly to make a statement.

"We never give up. And this states a principle, one that we think is important and a lot of ideas initially don't look attractive but after a period of time look better," said Assembly Majority Leader Ronald Canestrari.

The Assembly proposal would modify a current income surcharge for those who make $200,000 or more a year to only include those making $1 million. The tax is due to expire at the end of the year.