“Gov. Hochul delivered the annual State of the State address outlining her priorities for the upcoming session. I hope for, and expect, more specific details about her agenda when she presents her Executive Budget Proposal later this month. One thing is for certain, the governor and Legislature must address the challenging affordability and public-safety crisis facing our state. Violent crime in our communities, out-of-control spending, over-taxation, record inflation, one-party rule and costly, burdensome regulations on our small-business owners are devastating hardworking New Yorkers and contributing to the alarming exodus of residents and businesses that continue to leave our state.

“Gov. Hochul knows that we have a serious out-migration problem; in fact, we have lost more than 500,000 New Yorkers over the past two years. If she is truly serious about reversing the costly trend, she will present the Legislature with a budget proposal that is fiscally responsible and reflects the concerns and financial struggles New Yorkers are facing around our state.

“I will continue to advocate for common-sense policies that prioritize public safety and crime victims over criminals; lowers taxes and regulations to help spur job creation and economic development; an energy policy that prioritizes affordability and reliability, and not just green, for our seniors, families and businesses; a transportation infrastructure plan that invests in our local roads and bridges, and not just the MTA; and to ensure we are prioritizing the care of our most vulnerable New Yorkers—individuals with developmental disabilities. Their care, services, quality of life, and the direct-support professionals who care for them, will continue to be a top priority for me and should be a major focus of the Legislature this session.

“I implore the governor and legislative leaders to work with us in a bipartisan manner during the upcoming year to address these critical issues. The taxpayer is owed nothing less.”

Video Reaction Available for Download here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kfiuDxKKOtu9-e7_GfT44cMOExl5FXuN/view?usp=sharing