Statement From Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt Regarding the 2023-2024 Budget

The state budget crafted by Albany Democrats ignores the priorities of New York residents. The least transparent budget in recent memory failed to address the affordability crisis, does nothing to improve public safety, and imposes more big government mandates that threaten our economy.

A first-in-the-nation, unconstitutional ban on natural gas hookups in new construction will drive up utility bills and increase housing costs. The language changes to cashless bail laws are less than meaningless and will do nothing to curtail rising crime. Burdensome new mandates and billions in new MTA taxes will cripple our small businesses and family farms. And this massive spending spree will be paid for by funds stolen from local governments, driving up New Yorkers' already sky-high property taxes.

The Governor and Legislative Leaders have repeatedly stated it was more important to have a good budget than an on-time budget. Unfortunately for New Yorkers, they got neither. The end result of this disastrous budget deal will be more crime, fewer jobs, and continued out-migration to more affordable states.