Statement from Senator Daphne Jordan Regarding the "Excluded Worker Fund"

“Albany’s fiscal irresponsibility with hard-working taxpayer’s money apparently knows no end. The latest outrage is an effort to potentially establish an ‘Excluded Worker Fund’ (Senate Bill S.4543 and the Senate Democrat One-House ELFA, Part MM, 2021-22 State Budget) and give $2.1 BILLION in taxpayer dollars to illegal immigrants and released convicted felons. By some reports, this new slush fund would provide over $27,000 per person to the very people who broke our laws. The misguided measure also would provide tax dollars to persons who have not even paid into the system. This outrageous scheme is the latest in a long line of state government’s misplaced priorities. Every hard-working taxpayer should know about this foolish plan to send billions of their tax dollars to illegal immigrants and convicted felons – and hike taxes in the forthcoming State Budget to pay for it all. At the very time Governor Cuomo and Senate Democrats are planning billions in tax hikes, countless small businesses have closed, our economy is suffering, and our state is hemorrhaging red ink, it makes no sense to send billions of taxpayer dollars to illegal immigrants and convicted felons. This $2.1 billion could have been used to pay down the state debt or shore-up the state’s Unemployment Insurance Fund. Only in Albany’s ‘Bizzaro World’ and one-party Democratic rule is this ridiculous scheme even possible. This measure must NOT be part of the 2021-22 State Budget that’s due April 1.”

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