Long Island legislators return to Albany this week for the start of a new session with a familiar slate of issues that will once again highlight the ongoing conflict between local taxpayers and the forces that control state government.
At the top of the agenda are affordability, crime, and the green energy mandates they believe are unachievable and could very well bankrupt the suburbs. They will go to battle with an Inflation Relief & Consumer Assistance Plan, A Blueprint for Childcare (ABC) Plan, and a simple idea to stem the crime wave sweeping over the state: scrap cashless bail.
“If we are to truly turn a corner in 2025, we are going to need to make some wholesale changes to the way we conduct business here in New York,” stated Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, a member of the Republican Conference. “It’s a constant battle against the New city Democrats who oppose all of our reforms, but we are optimistic public pressure will help us get the big issues done.”
While the governor and leaders of the senate and assembly usually wait until the last minute to spring their spending plan on the legislators, financial concerns will be a hot topic right from the start. New York leads the nation in taxes and fees, and its business climate has residents fleeing in record numbers. The state drains its taxpayers for a bloated $229 billion budget—twice that of Florida, which has a larger population and no income tax—and the local lawmakers are pushing for relief.
The inflation-fighting plan put forth by the Assembly Republicans would give residents a break by eliminating state taxes on fuel, personal care products, housekeeping supplies, and food purchases. They’ve also proposed a new Division of Regulatory Review & Economic Growth, which would remove regulations inhibiting job creation.
“To further help families manage cost-of-living concerns, we are committed to making child care more affordable through tax incentives for families and providers,” said Assemblyman Will Barclay, leader of the GOP caucus, who noted that childcare costs are often one of the largest expenses in household budgets. “Developing alternative childcare options and removing rules and regulations that drive up costs and obstruct access to care are essential to alleviating these financial pressures,” he said of the plan that would save families an average of about $2,300 a year.
The local legislative contingent would rather the state leaders agree to more robust and lasting measures to cut taxes and enhance the state’s economic climate rather than the logistically expensive gimmick of sending each taxpayer a $300 check. “We must get back to basics, cut spending, and do more with less,” stressed Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio. “We need to protect our seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.”
Pledging to “work diligently” to restore law and order, the Republicans want to provide judges with the latitude to hold dangerous criminals, along with reforming the broken parole system and ensuring 16 and 17-year-old serious offenders are held accountable for their actions in the appropriate court. “Too often, violent offenders escape responsibility by having their cases transferred out of Criminal Court,” they argue. They’re also vehemently against the Sanctuary State and open border policies of the Democrats and support President Trump’s call to deport illegal immigrants, starting with the criminals that plagued the state with murder, drug offenses, and other crimes.
The legislators said they also expect more rallies in Albany by Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney and other prosecutors to give them more teeth in combating the illicit drug trade, particularly against fentanyl and Tranq, which are killing New Yorkers in record numbers.
According to the Republicans, the goals of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act are unachievable. “The potential costs associated with the near-total electrification of our energy grid are staggering, and it is extremely irresponsible that the law passed without a complete financial analysis,” stressed Assemblyman DeStefano. “We cannot afford to cut out traditional energy sources, and our school districts most certainly cannot afford to replace their entire bus fleets with new electric models as the legislation demands. Homeowners and businesses would also like to keep their gas stoves, barbecues, and heating systems.”
As the annual Albany push-and-pull begins anew, Long Island legislators are keen to keep school aid funding intact and beat back Gov. Hochul’s attempt to upset the hold harmless policy that kept schools from receiving less than their share of a $24.9 billion pot than the year before. Also on the radar is blocking moves to usurp local zoning authority to build multi-family housing and reverse plans to collect $75 billion from companies they say are causing climate change, expenses that will be passed on to consumers.
Lawmakers will also be jockeying for monies from the state’s $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. They will be looking to the state for support in handling the region’s solid waste once the Brookhaven Town landfill closes over the next few years. At issue is the Long Island Power Authority balking on extending power purchase agreements for waste-to-energy facilities, which the Democrats oppose.