Senator Oberacker Calls for Affordability in State Budget

ALBANY, 02/13/23 -- State Senator Peter Oberacker (R/C – Schenevus) today joined members of the Senate Republican Conference to unveil several proposals to improve affordability and push back against out of control state spending.  The initiative is part of the conference’s Rescue New York Agenda. While Governor Hochul and her Democratic allies in the legislature 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.

“We are losing people at a record pace, inflation is wreaking havoc on household budgets, and going-out-of-business signs are rampant,” said Senator Peter Oberacker.  “The only way to turn these trends around is to get a grip on skyrocketing state spending, cut out of control taxes, and return affordability to our state.  The governor’s reckless budget scheme burns through more cash than Florida and Texas combined and leaves hard working New Yorkers with the bill.  We need fundamental change and our Senate Republican initiatives will set us on the right course.” 

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 local governments, which would create enormous pressure to increase local property taxes;

• Increasing unemployment insurance taxes on already struggling small businesses and farms;

• 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.

“As the legislative budget hearings continue, I am pressing state commissioners and other officials for answers regarding the governor’s budget proposal.  My goal is to finalize a budget by the April 1 deadline, however, we cannot push through a plan that overspends, hikes taxes, and forces more people out of New York.  Affordability must be a leading priority,” Senator Oberacker concluded.

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