New York lawmakers kicked off budget negotiations Monday, with key differences emerging between the governor, Senate, and Assembly. While all three are Democrats, they disagree on policy inclusion, taxation, and spending priorities.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie insists the budget should be a “fiscal document,” avoiding policy debates. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Gov. Kathy Hochul include policy measures, such as school cell phone rules and changes to discovery laws.
Lawmakers also diverge on taxes, with the Senate and Assembly pushing tax hikes on high earners, while Hochul prefers maintaining current rates. Other issues, like MTA funding and middle-class tax relief, remain unsettled as closed-door negotiations continue.
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