Column: State Senator Tom O'Mara

"It's time to pay attention in New York"

ALBANY, March 23, 2025 -- The warning signs on New York's dashboard keep flashing "Pay Attention":

--Pay attention to the financial industry -- an industry on which the state's fiscal and economic well-being is make or break. This industry moving out of New York State, including the most recent Goldman Sachs announcement of its continued relocation of employees and operations to Texas, is alarming.

--Pay attention to the fact that over the past several years, New York State has been marked as a national leader in population losses.

--Pay attention to the rankings, including one of the latest from WalletHub, which have repeatedly designated New York among the highest taxed states in America, and often the highest taxed state.

--Pay attention when studies from the Tax Foundation and other fiscal watchdogs highlight New York's state and local debt per capita as among the highest of any state in the nation.

It goes on and on. These and other warning signs keep flashing and Albany Democrats just keep ignoring all of it.

Consequently, in response to what we see as yet another fiscally irresponsible state budget being negotiated right now by Governor Hochul and the Legislature's all-Democrat majorities -- negotiations that are clearly headed towards the continuation of uncontrolled state spending -- Senate Republicans last week renewed our commitment to actions to create a more affordable New York.

Albany Democrats readily acknowledge the affordability crisis causing the exodus of citizens to more affordable states. They do plenty of talking about it. Yet the Democrats can't give up increasing handouts. They have no interest in stopping out-of-control spending, eliminating taxes, lowering costs, cutting burdensome regulations and mandates, or restoring public safety.

In current budget negotiations, Senate Democrats are calling for spending far beyond the approximately $252 billion fiscal plan proposed by Governor Kathy Hochul for 2025-2026, which by itself was already nearly $9 billion higher than New York's current spending. According to a Senate Republican Finance Committee analysis, Senate Democrats have put forth a $259 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year -- at least $7 billion higher than Hochul's proposed budget and more than $15 billion higher than current state spending. It would mark the highest-ever state budget. Tellingly, Senate Democrats project that their proposed spending plan, if enacted, would lead to a string of state budget deficits over the next three fiscal years totaling $6.5 billion in 2027, $9.8 billion in 2028, and $11 billion in 2029.

In their one-house budget, Assembly Democrats want to spend even more.

From the outset, the Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences have warned that Governor Hochul's out-of-control state spending plan would only skyrocket once the Legislature's Democrat majorities, the biggest spenders in state history, got their hands on it. That's exactly where we're headed.

New York could go in a different direction. Senate Republicans last week highlighted several pieces of legislation that could be cornerstones of a new state budget, including legislation I sponsor to provide a significant tax cut to support small businesses and farmers. Other legislation our conference has put forth would establish a First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act; direct the state to determine the true cost of the mandates being imposed under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, better known as the CLCPA, on New York's ratepayers and then establish a credit for ratepayers and businesses to cover those costs; and enact the "Affordable New York Act," which is designed to lower the tax burden on individual workers in New York.

There are plenty of alternative actions that could help define a new budget and a new direction for New York State. Regrettably, they're the types of actions that don't currently have a place in this state's one-party, all-Democrat government.

Is it affordable and is it sustainable for the citizens and taxpayers of New York State to continue down this road of spending?

No, it's not. It remains irresponsible, unaffordable, and unsustainable.

We need to liberate New York by restoring the right priorities, rebuilding stronger and safer communities, and working towards a more responsible and sustainable future for middle-class communities, families, workers, businesses, industries, ratepayers, and taxpayers.

Photo in text: State Senator Tom O'Mara

Legislature Chairman

Carl Blowers, 535-6174 or 237-5469

Legislature Members:

Gary Gray, 292-9922

Jim Howell, 535-7266 or 227-1141

David M. Reed, 796-9558

Michael Lausell, 227- 9226

Phil Barnes, Watkins Glen, 481-0482

Mark Rondinaro, 398-0648

Laurence Jaynes

County Clerk: Theresa Philbin, 535-8133

Sheriff: Kevin Rumsey, 535-8222

Undersheriff: Andrew Zeigler, 535-8222

County Treasurer: Holley Sokolowski, 535-8181

District Attorney: Joseph Fazzary, 535-8383

State, Federal Officials for Schuyler County

Sen. Charles E. Schumer

United States Senate
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3201
DC Phone: 202-224-6542
DC Fax: 202-228-3027
Email Address: http://schumer.senate.gov/webform.html

Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand

United States Senate
478 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
DC Phone: 202-224-4451
Website: http://gillibrand.senate.gov/

State Senator Tom O'Mara -- Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, and Yates, and eastern Allegany County (towns of Alfred, Almond, Amity, Andover, Birdsall, Burns, Grove, Independence, Scio, Ward, Wellsville, and Willing).

Room 706, Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Phone: (518) 455-2091
Fax: (518) 426-6976
www.omara.nysenate.gov

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano-- All of Schuyler and Yates, majority of Steuben, and portions of Chemung and Seneca counties.

Room 448, Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
Phone: (518) 455-5791
Fax: (518) 455-4644
Website: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Philip-A-Palmesano/