May 8, 2025
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JOE SEMPOLINSKI: “I voted NO. I was frustrated both with the irresponsible level of spending and with the misplaced priorities within that spending. “I had pushed for making the pay of those who care for the disabled and mentally ill whole, relative to inflation. That didn’t happen. Instead, we spent on things like tax breaks for Hollywood. This budget is more than a quarter of a trillion dollars. Yet in all that spending, the governor and the Democrat majority couldn’t find a way to give meaningful wages to workers who care for the most vulnerable among us, people with disabilities and mental health challenges. But they were able to find $100 million for people who make movies. It’s a graphic example of where their priorities lie despite all their rhetoric and all their platitudes about caring for vulnerable New Yorkers. At $254.3 billion dollars, this is the largest budget in state history, an increase of $12.9 billion over last year’s state budget. We heard a lot from Gov. Hochul about fiscal responsibility and dealing with New York’s affordability crisis, but in the end what we’re getting is another bloated state budget, a tax and spend free-for-all negotiated behind closed doors by three people in a room. This budget will inevitably drive more businesses and jobs out of New Yorkid. “Making New York a more affordable, attractive place for people and businesses starts with drafting a responsible state budget that cuts overall spending. That’s not what happened here.”
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL PALMESANO: When Gov. Hochul released her budget, she claimed it would make the lives of everyday New Yorkers better and more affordable. The unfortunate reality is that this record-breaking budget is just more of the same. A $254 billion plan of higher taxes, uncontrolled and unsustainable spending and debt. An irresponsible budget that increases spending nearly $13 billion more than last year and creates a three-year budget deficit of nearly $29 billion. Unfortunately, this will do nothing to address New York’s affordability, public safety and quality of life crisis. It will just exacerbate it. \The governor will claim her modest discovery reforms will improve public safety, and while they are a small step in the right direction, it is still not nearly enough to offset the dangerous crime caused by failed policies like cashless bail and raise the age. Also, once again, this budget authorizes the governor to close even more correctional facilities, up to three, with just 90 days’ notice, another insult to the brave correctional officers who work a very dangerous job to keep us safe. This, at a time when 2,000 correctional officers were fired for their demonstrations as they simply asked for their employer, our state, to have their backs and provide them with proper tools and safety measures in their facilities. Now the governor, once again, has the power to close their places of employment, uproot their families and leave hundreds of staff without a job. This is just wrong. Our New York families and businesses continue to face a challenging economic and business climate with an onslaught of rising costs, taxes, regulations and unfunded mandates that hinder private sector investment, economic development and job creation. Instead of giving hard-working New Yorkers real relief, Albany Democrats have decided to march on with their disastrous, bloated spending and misplaced priorities, which will do nothing but drive more and more families and businesses out of our state and increase our nation-leading outmigration. We can, and must, do better. Our constituents deserve better. As we continue our work for the remainder of this legislative session, let us not forget those who have entrusted us to be their voice in Albany, and let’s work together for common-sense legislation to help make New York a safer, more affordable place to live.”
FROM STATE SENATOR TOM O’MARA: “New York State taxpayers today and long into the future already face trying to afford, live, and work under a bloated, wasteful, and unaffordable state government. New York is already one of the highest taxed, heavily mandated, overregulated, and least affordable states in the nation. This budget makes it worse. It increases spending and handouts by at least fifteen billion dollars but fails to address any meaningful tax relief, mandate relief, debt relief, or key priorities in health care, public safety, local roads and bridges, and so many other fundamentally important areas. It ignores the economic and fiscal warnings on the horizon and keeps on increasing government spending like there’s no tomorrow.
FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK: “Democrats and Republicans alike are rightly skewering Kathy Hochul and her budget for her sheer incompetence and catastrophic policies hurting New York. Governor Kathy Hochul’s disastrous $254 billion budget is not only the latest budget in over 15 years, but also it is a staggering $13 billion increase over last year’s already bloated budget, and it is a double down of her failed policies that have bankrupted New York’s hardworking families.
Under Kathy Hochul, New York already leads the nation in population loss due to unaffordability, sky-high taxes, and out-of-control crime. Hochul’s latest catastrophic budget will further exacerbate the mass exodus from our great Empire State. Even elected Democrats have publicly declared the budget process and outcome “shameful” and have shredded various aspects of Hochul’s budget.
Hochul puts New Yorkers last as she pours hard earned taxpayers funds into sanctuary city policies that incentivize illegal immigration all while diverting resources from our underfunded veterans’ services and law enforcement.
Hochul once again perpetuates New York’s violent crime crisis by refusing to fully repeal disastrous bail reform laws, leaving our neighborhoods less safe and emboldening criminals. Her budget doubles down on insane gas stove bans and unaffordable energy regulations that will further crush families and small businesses already grappling with soaring utility bills.
And in true NY Democrat corruption fashion, the cherry on top is Hochul’s secret taxpayer-funded slush fund for corrupt Tish James to use hard earned NYers money to defend herself in court for her illegal mortgage fraud. Truly Democrat corruption at its finest, led by Kathy Hochul. And as always, Governor Hochul’s refusal to eliminate New York City’s congestion pricing toll—a punishing, unaffordable tax opposed by a vast majority of New Yorkers—demonstrates her utter disregard for the financial burdens facing commuters, workers, and small businesses.
The process behind this budget, the latest in 15 years, reeks of cronyism and incompetence. New Yorkers deserve a transparent, fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes our needs, not the desperate attempt to shore up a politically weakened and toxic governor who is desperately trying to shore up her abysmal poll numbers.
As the highest-ranking Republican in New York, I resolutely oppose Hochul’s unaffordable plan and will continue fighting to restore commonsense policies that put New Yorkers FIRST.
Change is coming. And we must work together to SAVE NEW YORK from Hochul’s sheer incompetence and ineptitude.”
