Senators Ortt, Lanza, O'Mara, Helming And Weber Urge Senate Majority To Address Key Budget Issues

“New York has been driven off the rails by irrational leftist policies and bizarre priorities. We need common sense governance which will empower New Yorkers and lead us to our best future.  Lower taxes, safer communities, and a commitment to individual liberty will provide the way,” stated Senator Andrew Lanza, Deputy Republican Leader.

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Deputy Republican Leader Andrew Lanza, Senator Thomas O’Mara, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Pam Helming, Chair of the Republican Conference and Senator Bill Weber, Ranking Member of the Budget and Revenue Committee yesterday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins urging the adoption of several key budget priorities.  Many of these priorities are included in the Senate Republican Conference’s comprehensive “Liberate New York” policy agenda.

With the Senate and Assembly expected to vote on their One-House Budgets in the coming days, negotiations will soon be accelerating on the FY 2026 State Budget.  With this in mind, the Senate Republican Conference is urging the adoption of several key economic, public safety and quality-of-life proposals that would directly benefit millions of hardworking, taxpaying New Yorkers.  

“For far too long our state government has been failing the people of New York State. This year’s state budget negotiations provide the perfect opportunity to reprioritize and make New York safer, more affordable, and more prosperous.  Our state desperately needs a fiscally responsible state budget that cuts taxes, controls spending, and includes common sense solutions to address the critical challenges we face,” stated Senate Republican Leader Ortt.

“New Yorkers are making it clear that they think this state is on the wrong track, and our conference agrees. We need a redirection of priorities to focus on affordability, fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, law and order, fewer mandates, more freedom, and more common sense for the future of our families, taxpayers and ratepayers, businesses and industries, local economies and local communities,” stated Senator Tom O’Mara, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee.

“More and more New Yorkers continue to leave our state in search of better opportunities, lower cost of living, and better quality of life. We must RESET our priorities and put our state on a new path forward to stop this mass exodus of residents and businesses. This means reducing costly mandates, enacting sustained tax relief, securing safer streets, expanding local business and job opportunities, and turning New York State around,” stated Senator Pam Helming, Chair of the Republican Conference.

“Budgets are about balancing wants and needs, but New York State government has repeatedly failed to prioritize responsibly. We spend annually more than Florida and Texas combined and 1.5 times more per person than California. As one of just two CPAs in the Senate and the Ranking Member on the Budget and Revenue Committee, I know we need to get back to fiscal responsibility and smart budgeting. New Yorkers deserve better than reckless spending with little accountability,” stated Senator Bill Weber, Ranking Member of the Budget and Revenue Committee.

Among the Senate Republican Conference’s key priorities for the FY ’26 State Budget are the following:

Affordability 

Helping New York Families Grow and Thrive by Providing Child Care Incentives 

Providing Tax Relief for Residents and Small Businesses Through Tax Cuts and Property Tax Rebates.

Ensuring a Reliable and Affordable Supply of Energy for New Yorkers by Repealing the State’s Ridiculous Green Energy Mandates. 

Cutting Housing Costs, Revitalizing our Housing Stock, and Increasing Housing Supply.

Protecting Our New York Farmers and Keeping Agriculture in Our State.

Responsibly Investing in Sustainable Infrastructure.

Keeping Budgets In Check and Stopping Egregious Government Spending Increases.

Public Safety

Prioritizing Victims over Criminals.

Repealing Harmful Criminal Justice Policies such as Bail and Discovery “Reforms.”

Combating the Rise of Antisemitism and Hate Crimes.

Protecting and Empowering Our Law Enforcement Officers, Including Repealing the HALT Act.

Stopping Subway Crime and Theft.

Health

Improving the State’s Healthcare System by Ensuring Accessible and Affordable Health Care. 

Confronting the Substance Use and Mental Health Epidemics.

Helping our Veterans and Military Families Thrive.

Supporting Mental Health, Disability, and Other Human Services Direct Care Workforces.

Protecting Funding and Care for CDPAP.

Ensuring Clean Drinking Water for all New Yorkers.

End the New York Migrant Crisis

Ending New York’s “Sanctuary Status.”

Repealing the Green Light Law.

Prohibiting the use of Taxpayer Funds and Taxpayer-Funded Programs to Benefit Illegal Migrants. 

Ensuring the Swift Removal of Illegal Migrants.

Protect Students and Defend Parental Rights

Protecting New York Students from Antisemitism and Other Hateful Violence.

Protecting Girls’ Sports.

Providing Parents With Broader Education Opportunities for Their Children.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Services In Our Schools.

Expanding Opportunities for Schools to Hire School Resource Officers.

Ensuring Notification to School Districts of Juvenile Offenders Reentry Into School

Call for Government Accountability and Responsibilities

Enacting Statewide Voter ID for Elections and Term Limits for Politicians