New Yorkers Urge State Lawmakers to Reject Hochul’s Power Grab

Giving Gov. Hochul unilateral authority to make budget cuts is just a repeat of past mistakes

New Yorkers want their state lawmakers to represent their interests and needs in Albany, and not abdicate that role to a Governor intent on slashing services

Albany, NY – This morning, the Invest in Our New York Campaign and fifty-one organizations—representing thousands of New Yorkers—delivered a letter to Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie firmly opposing proposals to grant the Governor unilateral authority to slash the state budget should federal funding be reduced.

"We've seen this scenario before, with devastating consequences for New Yorkers," said Carolyn Martinez-Class, Campaign Manager for Invest in Our New York. "Ex-Governor Cuomo slashed education and healthcare funding when lawmakers granted him similar powers, and Governor Hochul has explicitly stated her intention to do the same in the past. If federal cuts materialize, our elected representatives must respond collectively and shield working-class and low-income New Yorkers from the most devastating consequences. They cannot fulfill this responsibility if they surrender their power to an austerity-driven executive."

Over 8 million New Yorkers depend on potentially threatened federal programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and Head Start. In March, the Senate and Assembly proposed modest tax increases on the wealthiest New Yorkers and highly profitable corporations—measures that could generate over $3 billion in new revenue to offset potential federal cuts. Governor Hochul, continuing her pattern from previous years, rejected these proposals. Granting her unilateral budget-cutting authority would effectively undermine the legislature's ability to negotiate and secure necessary funding from the state's wealthiest residents.

Read the full letter here.

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