Senator Walczyk Stands with Collegues to Demand Transparency in Budget Process

Albany, NY – Members of the New York State Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences today called on Governor Kathy Hochul and the Legislative Majorities not to use so-called “messages of necessity” to bypass the constitutionally required three day aging process once budget bills get introduced. This critically important “aging” provision of the State Constitution helps to ensure that the public, the press, and all interested parties have the opportunity to actually review the budget bills prior to them being enacted into law.  

Senate and Assembly Republicans called for the passage of a constitutional amendment  (S.4285, A.5996), sponsored by Senator Mark Walczyk and Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay, to prohibit an immediate vote from being called by the governor or acting governor on any budget bills.

“In her first speech after taking office, Governor Hochul promised 'a new era of transparency'. However, Democrat party bosses are showing they're in charge now. Her administration has shown zero transparency especially in this budget process. Now the latest budget in over a decade, the Governor will likely issue a message of necessity, so nobody has a chance to read it before it's voted on.  I'm proud to introduce legislation to require the proper minimum 3 days of sunlight on budget bills,” said Senator Mark Walczyk. 

 “Governor Hochul and the Legislature's Democrat majorities continue working behind closed doors to enact what will be the highest-spending budget New York State taxpayers have ever faced. It also sounds like it could be a budget overloaded with policy initiatives that will impact our local citizens, communities, and economies in fundamental ways.  This budget demands a full public airing and the appropriate time for review and debate,” said Senator Tom O'Mara, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Yesterday, the Governor indicated a final budget agreement could come as soon as the end of this week. Despite the fact that the budget is nearly a month late, there has been little to no transparency on the details that are being negotiated entirely behind closed doors. 

For example, Governor Hochul indicated that although a deal on changes to the dangerous bail reform laws has been reached, she declined to divulge details until a deal is reached on the overall spending plan.