Central New York senators and assemblymembers are joining their colleagues from across the state in Albany this week as the legislative session begins.
Much of the session is dominated by state budget negotiations. Republican Senator Joe Griffo of Rome says the state must control what he calls an insatiable appetite for spending that has increased seven or eight percent annually for the past several years.
“We have proposed putting a spending cap on the state budget in the same manner we do on the local governments to ensure that you stay within 2% growth each year.”
Feeding the state’s coffers are what Griffo calls burdensome taxes on businesses and individuals. Governor Kathy Hochul is trying to return some of that money to taxpayers in the form of proposed refund checks. Griffo says his caucus has a better plan.
"We're going to be proposing changes in the tax code so that you're lowering the income tax and potentially the sales tax, so that you have a greater, long-term impact on a taxpayer than receiving a one time $300 to $500 check.”
Democratic senator Rachel May also supports relief, but lawmakers should have input about how it’s done.
“I was disappointed that the governor made that announcement of that $3 billion expenditure without any consultation with the legislature and not really thinking through what the long term benefits and cost might be," May said. "We'll definitely have to have those conversations. They're harder to have after the announcement has been made. And so, if people are counting on that money, it's hard to say 'no, we don't think that's a good idea.' But there are much better, more strategic ways to use that funding that would put money in people's pockets."
She and Griffo say, however, they generally support Hochul's more targeted plan to double the child tax credit.
The housing shortage and the high cost of building new units is also a priority. Senator May says she has an idea that might spur development:
“We want to propose a a significant state revolving fund that would allow for lower initial interest rates so that the projects to get started and then once they're completed they can refinance at private bank rates and return the money into the revolving fund,” May said.
Lawmakers are waiting to see what Governor Hochul proposes in her state of the state address next week, and then in her budget.
WHAT ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY?
As chair of the transportation committee, Assemblymember Bill Magnarelli’s priorities largely focus on roads, bridges, mass transit, and electrifying the state’s highways. He says the idea is to reduce range anxiety for drivers of electric vehicles.
“My big question here is simply, what is it going to take to get that done? How long will it take and how much will it cost? And are the goals that we have set still feasible?" Magnarelli said. "I don't want to change those goals. I just want to know how we're going to get there.”
Magnarelli says he hopes to hear from transportation officials and the energy sector at a hearing later this month.
Meanwhile, Assembly colleague Al Stirpe is focused on workforce development.
“As chair of economic development, I talk to businesses every day and their comments are 'business is great. I just can't find enough people'. And it's been like that for the last four years.”
Stirpe says similarly, the state needs to increase reimbursement rates in order to recruit and retain medical professionals who care for residents at nursing homes and group facilities.
Both Stirpe and Magnarelli are a bit skeptical about how to pay for Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposals to send inflation refund checks to 8.6 million New Yorkers, and to increase the child tax credit.
“I like those ideas. They're not things I would throw out," Magnarelli said. "However, can I afford those ideas? What other things am I pushing off the table in order to get those payments. Right now I can't say one way or the other.”
“If she's got $3 billion that she has to spend, I think some of it should go to the unemployment Insurance trust fund," Stirpe said. "We borrowed over $10 billion. We still owe $6 billion plus, and we ended up making businesses pay that.”
This and more will figure prominently in budget negotiations starting later this month.
Editor's note: Click the blue "Listen" tab above the photo to hear the stories. The senate story is first, followed by the assembly story.
