Lockport, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt addressed the state budget proposal Friday and says the proposal's priorities are skewed toward the migrant crisis, and not helping New Yorkers in general.
Ortt says "extreme policies pursued under one-party rule" have directly caused a decline in New Yorkers' quality of life. Over the course of the past several years, Ortt says policies passed by Democrats have pushed New York to its brink and led to record outmigration.
"Many of the Western New Yorkers I represent are deeply dissatisfied with the direction of our state and our Conference is here to provide an alternative path forward," Ortt said. "While the out of touch majority is focused on $150 Million plans for pools and swim lessons, our farmers continue to feel the pain of increased costs to labor and an ever-shrinking bottom line. While the Governor touts her unrealistic climate goals, people in rural upstate have no reliable access to broadband internet. And while the opioid epidemic worsens, tearing families apart across the state, the majority provides nearly $2.5 Billion of your tax dollars to fund a self-inflicted crisis to feed and house illegal migrants – pushing aside the needs of our own residents and even homeless Veterans. Our Republican Conference will fight to give hope to those New Yorkers who feel they have no alternative but to leave our state. Our commonsense agenda provides solutions to build a greater New York for future generations,"
Ortt introduced his agenda, which he says focuses on Western New York taxpayers and making them the priority. "While New York Democrats are cutting school funding and keeping kids home from class, I am pushing to invest in our children's education and ensure schools have the resources they need to educate our future generations," adds Ortt.
"A New Hope For The Empire State" is Ortt's comprehensive legislative agenda for 2024 outlining a plan he says is aimed at fighting for New Yorkers "who are tired of the radical left legislature controlling Albany." He says his agenda prioritizes increasing affordability, improves public safety, and builds a greater New York:
Increasing affordability: Reigning in out of control spending:
- Enact a spending cap, rejecting tax increases and unfunded mandates, and providing tax relief for all New Yorkers;
- Taking action to help all New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet by rejecting extreme climate proposals, incentivizing new housing construction to deal with the housing shortage, and making child care more accessible and affordable;
- Improving the state's business climate by protecting small businesses and farms by reducing regulations and unfair costs.
Improving public safety:
- Protecting New Yorkers from antisemitism and other hateful violence by making any antisemitic behavior a hate crime, making all hate crimes bail eligible, protecting hate crime victims and houses of worship, and implementing financial penalties on both college universities and students who condone or engage in antisemitic behavior while receiving state aid;
- Rejecting efforts to continue New York a sanctuary state status;
- Reversing failed criminal justice policies that have made our communities less safe, including bail reform, discovery reform, and others;
- Rejecting policies that put criminals above victims and law-abiding New Yorkers;
- Providing more services and funding to address mental health crisis and substance abuse disorders.
Building a greater New York:
- Closing the pandemic learning gap, expanding school choice, and further investing in vocational education and workforce development;
- Providing support to our veterans to reacclimate and find educational and career opportunities; and Investing in and strengthening our infrastructure to encourage growth.
"It is clear New Yorkers are unhappy. Our plan offers a vision to correct that and bring New York back as a desirable place to live. As we head into a new legislative session, we will outline common-sense solutions to address these issues and improve the quality of life of every New Yorker," says Ortt
