Republican lawmakers upset over Hochul’s spending in upcoming budget

By WNYT

Some Republican legislators are blasting Gov. Kathy Hochul for spending too much in her 2025 Fiscal Year budget.

Hochul gave her budget address on Tuesday morning.

The priorities are seriously confused, Assemblyman Chris Tague from Schoharie said.

The governor’s budget plan prioritizes migrants over educating children in New York, Tague said.

Hochul’s budget has $35.3 billion going to school aid, an increase of $825 million over last year.

Sen. Jim Tedisco of Saratoga Springs slammed the governor for $4 billion in new spending at a time when the state has a growing $4.3 billion deficit.

Tedisco called the proposal “Hochul Hocus Pocus,” saying the governor will need to pull a rabbit out of a hat.

However, Tedisco agreed with Hochul’s proposal to install cameras at all state parks and campgrounds.

Tedisco has been pushing for that since the September 30 abduction of a 9-year-old girl from Moreau Lake State Park.