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Governor calls on lawmakers to embrace "affordability agenda" to lift up middle-class

Tax cuts, free college tuition and resources to fight crime in Hochul's State of the State

Posted 1/14/25

Governor Kathy Hochul announced her "affordability agenda" during her State of the State address today, Jan. 14, calling on lawmakers to take action to lift up the lower and middle-class ranks of the …

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Governor calls on lawmakers to embrace "affordability agenda" to lift up middle-class

Tax cuts, free college tuition and resources to fight crime in Hochul's State of the State

Posted

Story updated Jan. 15 at 11:46 a.m. to include Assemblyman Scott Gray's comments

Governor Kathy Hochul announced her "affordability agenda" during her State of the State address today, Jan. 14, calling on lawmakers to take action to lift up the lower and middle-class ranks of the state.

But Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush pushed back, saying it's time for Hochul to "walk the walk" herself.

“Today’s address painted an optimistic vision for New York but failed to address the urgent challenges residents face. The cost of living is unsustainable, with soaring housing prices, record-high groceries and rising energy costs thanks to forced green energy initiatives. New Yorkers need bold action and real solutions, not empty rhetoric and failed promises. It’s time for Gov. Hochul to walk the walk," Blankenbush said.

Senator Dan Stec was equally critical of Hochul in his address.

“In her State of the State address, Governor Hochul ignored or paid lip service to the many issues facing our State. Our affordability crisis was referenced in the form of insulting, gimmick ‘inflation checks.’ There was no vision for resolving the disastrous situation along our Northern Border. And there was no acknowledgement of the fact that bail reform has made it unsafe for New Yorkers to ride the subway, or even just go out in their community," Stec said in a statement.

Hochul called for a tax cut for the middle class for those earning up to $323,000 per year for joint filers, which she said is 77% of the state's taxpayers.

According to a release from her office, that would deliver" over $1 billion in tax relief to more than 8.3 million taxpayers."

Hochul also called for more tax cuts for parents, to make school lunches free for all students and to give rebates of up to $500 to millions of residents based on their income.

The move has been lauded as a populist move by the governor at a time when her approval ratings have declined and Republicans swept their way to victory in federal elections, claiming both chambers of Congress along with the White House.

Assemblyman Scott Gray was cautious in his reaction to Hochul's speech, saying he was happy that tax cuts for the middle-class, affordable childcare and universal school meals were under consideration while noting that "affordability" only comes through thoughtful legislation.
“Affordability isn’t a switch you can flip,” said Gray. “It requires a series of thoughtful legislative and policy changes in both the short and long term. We need to contain the budget to ensure we’re not just shifting the burden elsewhere.”
He commented that Hochul's "inflation refund" plan won't necessarily make for more affordable living conditions for constituents.
“Refunding unanticipated revenue isn’t the same as making life more affordable. It’s taking your money, deciding if the state needs it, and then giving it back. That doesn’t address the structural issues of affordability," Gray said.

Another proposal from the governor would also boost the agricultural industry, including cost-cutting measures that will support farmers, strengthen industry and promote "a more resilient future for New Yorkers," she said.

“New York’s agricultural industry is the backbone of our economy, and we will continue to invest in our farmers, our youth, and our future to make sure that New York remains a vibrant and competitive force in agriculture for generations to come,” Governor Hochul said. “From supporting our dairy and maple producers to strengthening local food systems and expanding agricultural education in our schools, these initiatives will position New York as a leader in innovation, resilience, and opportunity.”

Hochul said she aims to secure local food supply chains, expand affordable housing for farm help and position New York as a regional leader in fiber and maple production.

Crime was also a key component of her address as Hochul called for enhanced lighting, barriers on platforms of subways and more officers in New York City's subway system.

Sheh also proposed adding more state troopers to patrol the northern border, citing rising numbers of illegal crossings over the last two years as a primary concern.

Hochul did not offer an explanation of how such programs would be put in place or funded.

She also proposed protecting the identities of physicians who prescribe abortion drugs.

In another proposal, Hochul called on lawmakers to sign off on providing a $100 monthly benefit for expectant mothers who would then receive an additional $1,200 after the child is born.

As for the environment, Hochul called for spending $500 million for clean water and to invest 6 billion in water infrastructure to help lower water bills for families.

She also said she wants to fund initiatives to help New Yorkers protect homes, businesses and infrastructure from extreme weather, such as the flooding witnessed in St. Lawrence County on Aug. 9 and 10 of last year.

In another measure that could greatly benefit the North Country, Hochul also urged lawmakers to reauthorize a state Superfund Program to accelerate cleanups and repurpose contaminated sites.

Locations that could qualify for such programs could include industrial sites, former factories, fuel refineries and similar locations that could have environmental contamination.

As for healthcare, Hochul hopes to expand access to GLP-1 medications for individuals struggling with obesity, mandate minimum standards for stand-alone dental plans to simplify and improve care, ensure access to emergency medical care and extend the Safety Net Transformation Program.

"New York has taken major steps in the last two years to buttress the state’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system. However, there are areas across the state where EMS services are not consistently and reliably available. Governor Hochul will introduce legislation defining EMS as an essential service and requiring counties to ensure all residents have adequate access to these services. Such legislation will also require counties to develop a county EMS mapping that will allow New York to identify and fill gaps in coverage, coordinated statewide by the State EMS Task Force, which was established by Governor Hochul in 2022," the governor's office said in a statement.