WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik joined Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) in sending a letter to President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to commend their steadfast leadership in halting Governor Kathy Hochul’s disastrous congestion pricing which is a painful tax on New York workers and families.
Lawmakers wrote, "We write to express my sincere gratitude for your leadership in holding Governor Hochul and New York State Democrats accountable for their ill-conceived commuter tax, known as congestion pricing. While the fight is not yet over to put this scheme to bed once and for all, just know the people of New York and New Jersey stand behind you."
Lawmakers continued, "The fact that Governor Hochul believes forcing commuters off the roads and into a subway system riddled with crime is a great idea is entirely out of touch with reality. So far this year alone, NYPD crime data shows there have been 144 felony assaults in the subway system, and felony assaults overall are up 6.7% compared to 2023 and 54.8% compared to 2019 before the pandemic. When riders are being pushed in front of oncoming train cars and burned alive, it is delusional to think that forcing commuters to ride the subway is the right idea. If this isn’t bad enough, fare evasion cost the MTA over $700 million in 2024 due to turnstile jumping. Instead of addressing this brazen lawlessness, mismanagement, and public safety crisis, Governor Hochul wants to extract even more money from law-abiding, taxpaying New Yorkers to subsidize the dysfunction. That is not governance; it’s coercion."
Lawmakers added, "As we have consistently stated, this commuter tax was a blatant scheme to fund Governor Hochul’s inflated Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) budget at the expense of working families and small businesses. Congestion pricing would unfairly target suburban New York and New Jersey, as well as the residents of some of the lowest-income neighborhoods, who depend on their vehicles for their livelihoods. Rather than addressing the MTA’s multi-billion-dollar budget deficit to improve the public transit system, Governor Hochul believes she can forgo fiscal responsibility for a quick cash grab. By seeking to eliminate this plan, you have upheld your promise to the American people: that you will fight for us and win for us."
Lawmakers concluded, "This Administration's commitment to holding our government accountable, enhancing affordability, and standing up for the hardworking American people will be remembered for generations to come. On behalf of the thousands of commuters across New York and New Jersey, thank you for fighting for us. We look forward to working with you to pursue real solutions that improve the MTA service and MTA facilities while respecting taxpayers and delivering real results."
Read the full letter here.
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