Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik issued the following statement in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s late, reckless, and disgraceful New York State budget:
"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.”
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