January 22, 2025
From Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski: “Proposing a state budget of more than a quarter trillion dollars is irresponsible and indefensible. Governor Hochul likes to talk a good game but her spending shows her to be the extreme liberal that she is. This is out of control spending and out of control taxes,” Assemblyman Sempolinski said.
The governor’s proposed budget is $19 billion or 8.3% higher than her 2024-2025 budget proposal and $36 billion higher than her first budget proposal in 2022.
“In poll after poll, New Yorkers say addressing the cost of living should be our number one priority in Albany. You do that is by cutting government spending and taxes. Instead the governor gave us a tax and spend budget proposal that’s guaranteed to pile more taxes on the people of New York,” Assemblyman Sempolinski said.
Assemblyman Sempolinski said it’s almost as if New York Democrats are trying to be more irresponsible than Washington Democrats when it comes to spending.
“This is what happens when you think throwing money at a problem is your only solution. I’ve seen budget mismanagement at the federal level, but it’s almost as if New York Democrats are trying to outdo the incompetence of Washington Democrats.”
From Assemblyman Phil Palmesano: “Last week, Gov. Hochul said “affordability” was one of her top priorities. Her solution? The largest state budget ever, $252 billion, an increase of $19 BILLION from last year’s proposal is what Gov. Hochul proposed in her executive budget presentation. The governor’s plan continues New York down a dangerous and reckless path of more unsustainable and out-of-control spending and misplaced priorities that will just further compound the affordability crisis and financial struggles and challenges facing New York families and businesses. At a time when New Yorkers are making difficult decisions and having to tighten their own budgets, why does the governor think it is appropriate to increase the state’s budget so dramatically and irresponsibly? The governor and our Democrat colleagues in the Legislature need to remember this is the people’s money, not their money.
“The Legislature will now conduct public budget hearings through the month of February where we will examine the proposed budget and question the governor’s agency commissioners, department heads and community stakeholders to evaluate the impact of her proposals on New Yorkers.
“Budgeting is about priorities, and it is imperative we work to help support and improve the quality of life of our most vulnerable New Yorkers, individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and the dedicated direct-support professionals who care for them. This must be a priority.
“With all the talk about transportation funding focused on the MTA, which I do support, and do understand, is the lifeblood of the downstate transportation network, it is equally important however, that we have funding parity for the DOT Capital Plan to help improve our roads and bridges upstate, especially funding for our local roads, bridges and culverts through the critically important and successful Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS). Just as the MTA is the lifeblood of the downstate transportation network, CHIPS is certainly the lifeblood of our upstate transportation network, and in some instances, the only funding some local communities have to fund their local infrastructure. This must be a priority.
“We have some of the highest taxes and cost of living coupled with the most burdensome and costly regulations in the country, all of which have contributed to New York’s nation-leading outmigration. This is an untenable situation that we must address if we truly want to make New York more affordable for New York families and businesses and if we want to make New York a great place to work and raise a family.
“I will continue to advocate for common-sense policies that prioritize public safety, crime victims and law enforcement over criminals; fiscal responsibility; lower taxes and regulations to help spur job creation and economic development; an energy policy that understands and addresses the importance of affordability and reliability, and not just “so-called” green energy; an equitable transportation infrastructure plan that invests in our local upstate roads and bridges, and not just the downstate MTA; and the care of our most vulnerable New Yorkers, the intellectually and developmentally disabled, and not just migrants here illegally and the downstate elite.”
From State Senator Tom O’Mara: “Governor Hochul and Albany Democrats are addicted to spending. They can’t stop. It’s out of control and it’s shocking. Despite all the warning signs, Governor Hochul keeps feeding a ‘spend, spend, spend’ addiction that will never make New York more affordable. It will keep driving hard-working taxpayers and middle-class families out of the state. It will keep killing jobs and strangling local economies. It keeps ignoring the reality that New York remains one of America’s highest-taxed, least affordable, most debt-ridden and overregulated states, and that we’re leading the nation in population loss. The Albany Democrat spending addiction over the past six years has put in place massive, long-term spending commitments — and with massive commitments looming in their pursuit of a radical climate agenda – that will never be affordable or sustainable for state and local taxpayers, small businesses and manufacturers, and continually hard-pressed upstate communities, economies, and workers.”
From Senator George Borrello: “Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal represents a staggering and deeply troubling escalation of spending at a time when New York cannot afford it. With a record $252 billion price tag, this budget is $19 billion higher than last year’s Executive Budget proposal. The unchecked growth in spending is not only reckless, but it is the driver of the high cost of living that is pushing out residents and jobs.
The state is staring down major multi-billion-dollar budget gaps in future years, underscoring the structural fiscal issues we are failing to address. At the heart of this problem is Medicaid, where spending continues to skyrocket with no meaningful plan from the Governor to rein it in—even as she herself has called the current trajectory ‘unsustainable.’ New York’s Medicaid program has long been known as the ‘Cadillac’ of state Medicaid programs because it is the most expansive and costly, outpacing even California’s. It’s long past time for the state to align its benefits with those of other states and take stronger measures to root out the waste, fraud and abuse. Without reform, we are simply ignoring reality and setting the stage for painful tax increases and cuts in other areas of the budget in the near future.
While the Governor has included so-called ‘affordability’ measures such as middle-class tax cuts and rebate checks, against the backdrop of skyrocketing spending and looming deficits, the net effect for taxpayers will be more financial pain in the form of higher taxes, fees, or other burdens to fund this irresponsible budget.
Adding to the chaos is the unaddressed $33 billion gap in the MTA’s capital plan. While this massive shortfall is conspicuously absent from the budget, it will need to be addressed in the final budget—likely through new taxes or fees that will once again hit hardworking New Yorkers.
Traditionally, it has been the Governor’s responsibility to serve as the ‘adult in the room’ during budget negotiations, balancing ambitious priorities with fiscal discipline. Unfortunately, this proposal suggests that Governor Hochul is content to pass the buck instead of passing meaningful reforms. New Yorkers deserve better. It’s time to stop treating taxpayers like an endless ATM and start making the tough choices necessary to secure our state’s financial future.”
