Progressive lawmakers and advocates rallied at the state Capitol on Monday, urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to include the “working families tax credit” in the state budget. The proposal consolidates existing tax breaks, such as the Empire State Child Credit, and increases benefits for families.
Hochul recently proposed tripling the maximum child tax credit, but advocates argue for more ambitious action. Sen. Andrew Gounardes’ bill would raise the maximum credit to $1,600 per child, remove family size caps, and distribute payments quarterly. Supporters say this would significantly reduce child poverty.
Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas emphasized the credit’s potential to curb population loss, noting that working families—not the wealthy—are leaving New York due to affordability concerns. Advocates see the proposal as a crucial step toward economic relief.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.