Republicans in the New York state Senate on Monday called for measures in the state budget meant to address the cost of living in New York, from ending a plan to charge tolls in parts of New York City, to reducing local government burdens that contribute to a homeowner's property tax bill and home heating costs.
Republicans called for the provisions while also criticizing Gov. Kathy Hochul's $227 billion spending proposal over measures they worry will hit New Yorkers' pocketbooks. They also raised concerns over spending meant to aid migrants in New York City.
“We are here today to show New Yorkers that there are people in Albany who hear them. We have actionable, achievable solutions to make our state affordable again," Ortt said. "The policies coming from the Hochul administration and her allies on the left aren’t just wrong, they are irresponsibly out of touch with reality and they’re driving people out of the state."
State lawmakers and Hochul this year are negotiating a budget against an unusual economic backdrop: Inflation has led to voters in New York giving low ratings to the economy, but the state itself has been flush with cash due to higher taxes on the rich and federal pandemic money.
New York is set to close out its fiscal year on April 1 with an expected $8.7 billion surplus.
But that surplus is expected to turn into a red-inked deficit in coming years as tax revenue is projected to shrivel up and the economy faces a potential downturn.
The cost of living has been a theme for Hochul's budget plan, and she has touted efforts to expand housing in New York to drive down rents as well as make it easier for people to buy a home. She wants to link the minimum wage to the rate of inflation, with a cap on increases when inflation spikes.
Hochul has also not backed a tax increase on richer New Yorkers by raising rates under the personal income tax. But she does want to increase a payroll mobility tax in regions of New York served by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — a move opposed by Senate Republicans.
It's measures like that, along with efforts to curtail new gas hook ups in new construction, that have raised the ire of Republicans.
"While hundreds of thousands of middle class families are struggling to afford everyday necessities, the Democrats led by Kathy Hochul are prioritizing $300 million for individuals who are here illegally," Ortt said. "While seniors on fixed incomes worry about their heating bills, they’re moving to ban fossil fuel hook-ups to new and existing buildings and drive costs up even further."
Ortt's conference, instead, called for a repeal of plans like congestion pricing, which will create a toll system for vehicles entering parts of New York City. The Republicans also want relief for small businesses from a multi-billion dollar unemployment debt owed by New York state to the federal government, currently being repaid through a surcharge levied on employers.
And the lawmakers called for relief on home heating costs, which have surged this winter.
"The policies that we have seen supported and pushed for by the governor and legislative majorities are not working," said state Sen Joe Griffo. "New Yorkers need real, significant relief, as we have stressed and advocated for continuously."