Griffo, Senate Republicans unveil plan to create ‘A More Affordable New York’

ALBANY - In response to a fiscally irresponsible state budget proposal that continues uncontrolled state spending, New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-C-Rome, and members of the Republican Conference unveiled their vision to provide relief and create “A More Affordable New York.” 

This is one of several impactful initiatives being proposed as part of the conference’s Rescue New York Agenda. While Gov. Hochul and the legislative majorities continue ignoring everyday New Yorkers with the same old tax and spend routine, the Senate Republican Conference is putting forward real solutions to help the middle class and build a stronger economy statewide.

The Republican Conference specifically called out several Executive Budget proposals that would exacerbate New York State’s lack of affordability, including:

• Eliminating enhanced Medicaid payments to county governments, which would create enormous pressure on them to increase local property taxes;
• Increasing unemployment insurance taxes on already struggling small businesses and farms rather than making a real effort to recover $11 billion in COVID-19 unemployment insurance funds that were paid out incorrectly by the state;
• Further increasing payroll taxes in the MTA region; and
• Siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars in state money into New York City to pay for the settlement of illegal immigrants.

In contrast, the Senate Republicans’ “A More Affordable New York” initiative will put money back into the pockets of taxpayers and make our state affordable once again as families continue to struggle with rising costs due to record high inflation, including: 

• Eliminating costly unfunded mandates that drive up local property taxes;
• Protecting businesses from unemployment insurance tax hikes by creating an Unemployment Insurance Solvency Reserve Fund and repealing the interest assessment surcharge, which is the assessment on businesses to pay back the UI Trust Fund’s deficit;
• Repealing Congestion Pricing; and
• Providing relief from heating costs geared toward the middle class.

Sen. Griffo said, “It’s no secret that New York has an affordability problem. People and families flee the state every day because they can’t afford to live here due to burdensome and crippling taxes, energy costs, regulations and mandates. The policies that we have seen supported and pushed for by the governor and legislative majorities are not working. New Yorkers need real, significant relief, as we have stressed and advocated for continuously. This plan will provide for that relief, help the middle class and strengthen and grow the state’s economy.”

###