Ortt, NYS Senate Republicans unveil ‘New Hope of Empire State’ agenda

Photo courtesy of State Sen. Rob Ortt’s Office: Rob Ortt speaks at the podium today while joined by some of his Republican colleagues in the State Senate in Albany.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – The State Senate Republican Conference today unveiled “A New Hope For The Empire State,” their legislative agenda for 2024. The agenda prioritizes the issues that affect everyday New Yorkers, but have been neglected by the radical left politicians who control Albany.

Extreme policies pursued under one-party rule have directly caused a decline in New Yorkers’ quality of life. Over the course of the past several years, we’ve seen destructive policies passed by radical Democrats that have pushed New York to its brink.

Sanctuary state policies have only increased the inflow of migrants, impacting local government services at the detriment of residents who already live here. The recent rise in antisemitic rhetoric coming from DSA radicals at all levels of government has stoked divisions within our communities. Places of higher learning have become breeding grounds for the antisemitic bullying we see occurring on college campuses throughout the country. Throughout the holiday season, we witnessed protests disrupting the Thanksgiving Day parade, the New York City tree lighting, the New Year’s Eve ball drop, travel at airports and more.

Our law enforcement community has their hands tied because of policies that prioritize criminals. The complete disregard for society is flat out appalling. We need sound minded people and a sound minded plan to bring New York back to what it once was.

“New Yorkers are deeply dissatisfied with the direction of our state and our Conference is here to provide an alternative path forward. I have traveled throughout the state and people are tired, frustrated and angry. They feel forgotten. Over the course of the year we have seen crimes and costs rise. Antisemitism is infiltrating our schools and communities and has become the norm. The migrant crisis has only gotten worse because New York City politicians continue to push their feel-good policies, but it is these radical policies that are driving New Yorkers out,” Ortt said. “As the Leader of this conference, I will not take a back seat to the progressive agenda destroying our state. Our Republican Conference will fight to give hope to those New Yorkers who feel they have no alternative but to leave our state. Our common sense agenda provides solutions to build a greater New York for future generations.”

“A New Hope For The Empire State” is a comprehensive legislative agenda for 2024 outlining a plan to fight for New Yorkers who are tired of the radical left legislature controlling Albany. This agenda prioritizes increasing affordability, improves public safety, and builds a greater New York:

Increasing Affordability

• Reigning in out of control spending: enact a spending cap, rejecting tax increases and unfunded mandates, and providing tax relief for all New Yorkers;

• Taking action to help all New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet by rejecting extreme climate proposals, incentivizing new housing construction to deal with the housing shortage, and making child care more accessible and affordable; and

• Improving the state’s business climate by protecting small businesses and farms by reducing regulations and unfair costs.

Improving Public Safety

• Protecting New Yorkers from antisemitism and other hateful violence by making any antisemitic behavior a hate crime, making all hate crimes bail eligible, protecting hate crime victims and houses of worship, and implementing financial penalties on both college universities and students who condone or engage in antisemitic behavior while receiving state aid;

• Rejecting efforts to continue New York a sanctuary state status;

• Reversing failed criminal justice policies that have made our communities less safe, including bail reform, discovery reform, and others;

• Rejecting policies that put criminals above victims and law-abiding New Yorkers; and

• Providing more services and funding to address mental health crisis and substance abuse disorders.

Building a Greater New York

• Closing the pandemic learning gap,  expanding school choice, and further investing in vocational education and workforce development;

• Providing support to our veterans to reacclimate and find educational and career opportunities; and

• Investing in and strengthening our infrastructure to encourage growth.

“It is clear New Yorkers are unhappy,” Ortt said. “Our plan offers a vision to correct that and bring New York back as a desirable place to live. As we head into a new legislative session, we will outline common-sense solutions to address these issues and improve the quality of life of every New Yorker.”

More details of the New York State Senate Republicans’ “A New Hope for the Empire State” 2024 legislative agenda will be unveiled in the coming weeks. To read more, click here.