In a concerted effort to advocate for the interests of hardworking New Yorkers, Senators Rob Ortt, Andrew Lanza, Thomas O’Mara, and Bill Weber have jointly urged the Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins to prioritize several critical economic, public safety, and quality-of-life proposals in the upcoming budget negotiations.
The Republican Conference’s comprehensive “A New Hope for NY Agenda” outlines pragmatic recommendations aimed at addressing the pressing challenges faced by New Yorkers. With the Senate and Assembly set to vote on their One-House Budgets, the senators emphasize the importance of adopting measures that directly benefit the state’s taxpayers.
Key proposals advocated by the Senate Republican Conference include:
- Rejecting Additional Funding for Migrants: The proposed $2.4 billion increase in funding for migrants, totaling $4.3 billion over two years, is deemed excessive and misguided.
- Supporting Safe Learning Environments: Withholding resources from schools that fail to protect Jewish students or support the BDS movement is essential to combatting antisemitism and ensuring safe learning environments.
- Preserving School Aid Funding: Rejecting changes to the School Aid formula, particularly the elimination of the “save harmless” clause for Foundation Aid, which would result in direct funding cuts for numerous school districts.
- Opposing Prison Closures: Rejecting the Governor’s plan to close five additional prisons to safeguard public health and safety, prevent economic destabilization, and protect correction officers.
- Advocating for Transportation Infrastructure: Ensuring equitable funding for New York’s critical transportation infrastructure, including parity between Upstate and Downstate infrastructure funding and increased investment in local roads and bridges.
The senators emphasize the importance of responsible stewardship of tax dollars, jump-starting economic recovery, and restoring common sense to the criminal justice system. Their agenda stands in contrast to Governor Hochul’s proposed budget, which they believe taxes excessively, spends recklessly, and reflects misplaced priorities.
In addition to rejecting certain proposals, the senators also advocate for the inclusion of specific measures in the Senate’s One-House Budget and the final Enacted Budget for FY2025.
The letter to the Senate Majority Leader underscores the senators’ commitment to addressing the critical needs of New Yorkers and ensuring a brighter future for the state.