Ortt and other GOP leaders say Hochul leads state to ‘record spending, radical mandates’

Photo from Rob Ortt’s Office: State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and other Republican state legislators, as well as Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, speak in ALabany today about the high cost of living in the state.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay, along with members of the Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences today were joined by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik at the State Capitol blasting Democrats for failing New Yorkers by ending this legislative session with more spending, more mandates, and more excuses.

“Albany Democrats are wrapping up another session with record spending, radical mandates, and zero results for struggling New Yorkers,” Ortt said. “Governor Hochul’s $254 billion budget does nothing to lower costs, but everything to drive up energy bills, grocery prices, and the cost of doing business.

“While families are getting crushed, Democrats created a $10 million legal slush fund to protect their political allies,” Ortt said. “They doubled down on pro-criminal policies and turned a blind eye to rising antisemitism, illegal immigration, and collapsing public safety. The message from Albany is clear: if you’re a criminal or a bureaucrat, you’re protected; if you’re a hardworking taxpayer, you’re on your own. Senate Republicans are fighting for a better path, one that puts law-abiding New Yorkers first, restores public safety, and makes this state affordable again.”

Top Five Takeaways this 2025 Legislative Session:

1. Affordability Crisis in New York Worsens:

New York remains one of the most unaffordable states in America. Instead of cutting taxes or easing the cost of living, Governor Hochul and the Democrats passed a $254 billion budget, a $11 billion increase from last year.

Governor Hochul and the Democrats fought to keep in place congestion pricing.

New York Democrats, led by Governor Hochul, continue full steam ahead with their reckless energy policies that have led to sky high utility bills and construction costs, such as a prohibition on natural gas and propane equipment in new buildings beginning next year.

They raised spending and pushed new regulations that make it harder to live and do business in New York.

The so-called Packaging Reduction Act is a hidden tax on everyday goods that will make groceries, household items and essentials more expensive and will cost New York households upwards of $700 per year.

The HEAT Act threatens to eliminate affordable natural gas, spike utility bills, and kill good-paying energy jobs — all while delivering no measurable climate benefit.

2. Choosing Criminals Over Victims:

Meanwhile, the Democrats’ pro-criminal agenda continues to make New Yorkers less safe. The Democrats have pushed radical legislation such as:

The Earned Time Act, which would allow inmates, even violent felons, to drastically reduce their prison sentence by up to three-fourths.

Elder Parole, which would automatically grant a parole hearing to the worst offenders in New York State’s prisons, including murderers and rapists.

Fair and Timely Parole, which would dramatically change the parole process by presuming an inmate should be released unless the Board of Parole can prove the individual is currently an unreasonable risk to public safety. This shift in presumption would lead to more violent felons being granted parole, even if they still pose a risk to the community.

Second Look Act, which would allow a prisoner to seek a sentence reduction.

These measures put violent offenders ahead of victims. That’s not justice. That’s a disgrace.

3. Antisemitism and Campus Chaos:

In the face of rising antisemitism and hate on college campuses, Democrats refused to pass legislation that provides real consequences for campus agitators who spew hate and threaten Jewish students.

4. Illegal Migrants and Public Safety:

Democrats refused to repeal dangerous sanctuary policies that protect illegal migrant criminals over law-abiding citizens.

5. Albany Democrats’ Corruption:

Democrats created a $10 million taxpayer-funded legal defense slush fund… for our corrupt Attorney General.

At a time when working people can’t afford groceries, Albany insiders made sure they are protected. That’s not leadership — that’s corruption.

“I am honored to join Leader Ortt and Leader Barclay to meet with the Republican Senate and Assembly Conferences for the last week of legislative session,” Stefanik said. “Another year, another failed, radical, reckless agenda and legislative session in New York State passed by single Party Democrat rule led by the worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul.

“Kathy Hochul and Far Left NY Democrats have once again put New York last with a massive, bloated $254 billion budget that is anti-worker, anti-family, anti-farm, anti-small business, and anti-law enforcement,” Stefanik said. “From job-killing regulations proposed like the insane 700-cow farm cap to pro-criminal policies that make our streets, communities, and campuses less safe, this legislative session continues New York down the path to catastrophe further exacerbating the affordability crisis and crime crisis.”