After sharing heartfelt New Year's wishes and respect for the other side of the political aisle, lawmakers are split on the best ways for the state to address the continuing stream of asylum seekers arriving in New York and the best policies to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the next state budget.

They delivered frank remarks on the floor of the Senate and Assembly on Wednesday — the first of 61 total scheduled days of the 2024 legislative session.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has said the state's ongoing influx of migrants will be addressed in the upcoming budget negotiations. With at least 18,000 migrants arriving in the state over the last few weeks, New York will need to dedicate more resources, expected to be more than the $2 billion spent this year, to address the emergency in the next budget.

But with a $4.3 billion shortfall, the Legislature will be hard-pressed to rein in spending with higher costs, and the greater need.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has said the influx of asylum seekers will cost the city $12 billion. He and Hochul have visited members of Congress and President Joe Biden's administration in Washington to plead for assistance, which have largely gone unanswered for more than a year.

Republican lawmakers blamed Democratic-backed state policies for the crisis during their opening remarks in both houses, and after session adjourned for the day.

"The sanctuary city Democrats who opened their arms and said, 'Come, we'll protect you, we'll provide for you,' and now they're here," said Sen. Tom O'Mara, the ranking member of the Finance Committee. "And they don't want it. They don't like it. They can't afford it."

But some Democrats stand ready for the Legislature to lead through federal inaction.

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, a Queens Democrat. sponsors legislation for the state to issue work permits to allow more migrants to work.

People have criticized the proposal, arguing it's illegal and immigration must be handled by the federal government, but the assemblywoman is quick to defend it.

"I say, well, let a court decide," Rajkumar said Wednesday. "And that's the kind of aggressive stance we have to take to put pressure on our federal government because this is a New York state crisis, not just in New York City crisis."

Rajkumar also sponsors legislation to establish a state coordinator to lead migrant response and where people are relocated across the state. She's pushing her Democratic colleagues to support putting the policies in the next budget.

"If it can be done in the budget, then it should get done in the budget because that's sooner," she said. "Otherwise, we'll keep pushing to the end of session. ...I care about New York state and the welfare of our state depends on the welfare of our city."

It's unclear how Hochul plans to address the influx of migrants without the federal government's assistance. Lawmakers are waiting for more details to be revealed in her Jan. 9 State of the State address and the executive budget to be released Jan. 16.

Republicans and Democrats agree on one point to assist New York: Put greater pressure on Biden and Congress to take action as soon as possible.

"I hope my colleagues here in New York state, my Democratic colleagues, would go visit Congress and visit the president and say 'This has got to end, we can't afford to do it and keep funding this in New York," Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said.