State Senate Republicans are voicing sharp criticism over the failure to adopt an on-time state budget for the fourth consecutive year, blaming Governor Kathy Hochul and the Democrat-led Legislature for what they call a deepening dysfunction in Albany.
At a press conference Monday, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Tom O’Mara joined Minority Leader Rob Ortt and Senator Jim Tedisco in condemning the delays and demanding greater transparency in the budget process.
“The inability of Governor Hochul and New York’s Democrat legislative leaders to adopt an on-time state budget is yet another signal of dysfunction,” O’Mara said, citing economic instability and high taxes as urgent issues facing New Yorkers. He accused Democrats of “bringing New York government to a standstill” as residents struggle with crime, affordability, and economic uncertainty.
Ortt pointed to infighting among Democrats as the root cause of the delay. “Democrats can’t agree on how much to increase spending and taxes or come to an agreement on basic public safety concerns,” he said. “We can’t predict when we will finally see a budget deal, but we can tell you with certainty that it will be completely unsustainable and out of touch with the needs of New Yorkers.”
Senator Tedisco used the moment to renew his call for the passage of the Budget Transparency Act, which he sponsors. The proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit legislative sessions between midnight and 8 a.m. and limit the use of “messages of necessity” to true emergencies. These messages are currently used to bypass a required three-day waiting period before votes, a tactic critics say undermines public oversight and legislative review.
Tedisco criticized what he described as a recurring cycle of budget dysfunction. “It’s more like the movie ‘Groundhog Day’ with the fourth late budget under this Governor and Majorities,” he said. “They only have themselves to blame as they control all levers of power in Albany.”
Republican lawmakers argued that budget negotiations have grown increasingly opaque under Hochul’s administration. With all branches of state government controlled by Democrats, they say there is no excuse for missed deadlines or backroom deals that leave the public in the dark.
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 [email protected].