NY Governor Kathy Hochul on State Budget Talks: Affordability and Public Safety

State Budget Priorities

• 🎯 The fiscal 2025-26 executive budget proposal is framed as a statement of values, prioritizing the people of New York State to not only survive but thrive.
• 💰 Key initiatives include putting more money into families' pockets through tax refunds, a middle-class tax cut, and expanding the child's tax credit.
• 🛣️ Investments are planned for infrastructure, such as filling potholes and maintaining roads, alongside providing essential resources for local municipalities and school districts.
• 🛡️ The budget also emphasizes public safety and efforts to eliminate gun violence.

Economic Challenges and Solutions

• 📉 Governor Hochul highlights the current frightening economic times due to turmoil in Washington, D.C., and the impact of tariffs on supply chains and job security.
• 📈 Tariffs are identified as a significant factor increasing costs for businesses and consumers, potentially leading to job losses and reduced investment.
• 💸 The budget aims to provide direct relief through inflation reduction rebates and a significant expansion of the child tax credit, offering thousands of dollars back to families.
• 🍎 Proposals include universal free school lunches and breakfast to support students and reduce stigma associated with poverty.

Public Safety and Mental Health

• 🚨 The administration is committed to public safety, noting a 28% reduction in gun violence in Rochester.
• ⚖️ Concerns are raised about discovery laws, with a call to reform a system perceived as skewed, potentially allowing cases to be dismissed on minor technicalities and leaving victims without justice.
• 🧠 The governor advocates for changing laws to provide help for individuals suffering from severe mental illness, ensuring they receive necessary care and support.

Call to Action and Collaboration

• 💪 Governor Hochul emphasizes resilience and the need to fight for New Yorkers, stating she will not sign a budget that doesn't prioritize affordability and public safety.
• 🤝 The importance of collaboration between state, local, and federal levels of government is stressed, with appreciation for local leaders and organizations like Food Link.
• 🗣️ The message is one of action over talk, urging support to get the budget passed and deliver tangible results for the people of New York.