The New York State legislature wrapped up its 2021 session with unsurprising increases in spending across many areas.
For those lawmakers in the minority in both Senate and Assembly – namely the Republicans – a majority of them expressed similar thoughts: the opportunity to meet many challenges facing the Empire State was squandered.
“While I was proud to join my Senate Republican Conference colleagues to show our collective opposition to protect our constituents, it was important to find agreement when possible to better the lives of all New Yorkers. That is the lesson we must all take from the pandemic so that we can rebuild stronger than ever because that is what those we represent deserve,” said Senator Mario Mattera (R,C,I-Smithtown) (photo right) upon completing his first session in the State Capitol.
In the face of the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic, there is good and bad. The State’s adopted budget – a new spending record — provides a 12 percent boost in education spending and help for small businesses, but fails to rescind the emergency powers of the governor and allow the Legislature, a co-equal branch of government, to do its job in managing an anticipated economic recovery.
“The one party rule in Albany is a serious problem and it’s only getting worse,” said Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R,C,I-St. James) (photo right). “It’s a direct threat to the suburban quality of life we enjoy on Long Island, in terms of reckless spending and misguided legislation.”
Spending Up
Overall, the State will spend $212 billion, a 9.7% increase amounting to $18.7 billion over last year. The proposed spending plan does not stay within the 2% spending cap imposed by the State over all other governmental entities. In fact, the cost to run state government will go up 6.6%.
Schools will get $29.05 billion in state aid, which is a $3.06 billion increase, and a boon to Long Island schools as well. Including federal dollars, total school aid funding will be $41.1 billion. Foundation Aid came in at $19.8 billion, $1.4 billion more than last year, while $938.6 million has been budgeted for Universal Pre-K, which is a $142 million increase. Non-public school aid stays level at $193.1 million.
“With the close of the 2021 Legislative Session, I am left with a sour taste, said first-term Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R,C,I-Riverhead) (photo right). “While we did some good for New Yorkers by passing school aid and providing COVID support to our small businesses, there was so much either left undone or passed up for misguided bills. Instead of helping our farmers, Albany passed outlandish gun regulations. There wasn’t any talk of real ethics reform or lower property taxes, or even anything to repair the deficit left by our COVID response. It was all focused around a New York City agenda that either costs our taxpayers money or ignores the problems facing us all.”
In other areas, the budget allocates $94.1 million for Library Aid, same as last year, and $105.9 million for schools serving the blind and deaf, which is $2 million more than last year.
The Community College base rate remains at $2,947 per student with $1.07 billion authorized for the Tuition Assistance Program, which is $73.8 million more than last year. The TAP maximum rises by $500 to $5,665.
Pandemic Relief
The budget creates a Small Business Pandemic Relief Program with $800 million for COVID-19 Pandemic recovery grants; $25 million was allocated for New York Restaurant Resiliency Grants, while $600 million was approved for the Small Business Credit Initiative Program.
The legislature also provided $2.45 billion for an Emergency Rental Assistance Program for individuals in rental arrears as a result of the pandemic and $600 million for the Homeownership Relief and Protection Program, designed to prevent mortgage issues and loss of utility/home energy services.
An “Excluded Worker” Fund was created to provide $2.1 billion for undocumented immigrants with unemployment benefits up to $14,820. This was one of the more controversial items with taxpayers having to provide money to those in our country illegally.
“This year’s legislative session was more of the same backward-thinking polices which have only hurt New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I-Medford). “The Assembly Majority prioritized legislation protecting criminals and illegal immigrants while abandoning hard-working New Yorkers. I am deeply disappointed we are leaving Albany without rescinding the emergency declaration and limiting the governor’s powers.”
Varied Initiatives
In the area of Transportation and Infrastructure, $357.3 million in operating aid was provided to Downstate transit systems, $47.9 million more than last year. The Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) will get $538.1 million, $100 million more than last year. The Extreme Winter Recovery Fund received $100 million, while the same amount went to BRIDGE-NY; $150 million went to PAVE-NY.
The $300 million level for environmental protection was maintained and a new $3 billion Environmental Bond Act, “Restore Mother Nature,” will be submitted for voter approval in November 2022.
Mobile Sports Wagering was approved, as well as a Request for Information to solicit interest in three new Downstate casino licenses.
Opportunities Lost
“As has been the case for some time, the Assembly Majority has squandered another year of session on frivolous, and often dangerous, legislation. From hampering police operations to ridiculous new taxation policies, I am very concerned with how New York will be performing in the long-term,” stated Assemblyman Doug Smith (R,C – Holbrook) (photo left).
Former Assemblyman, now first-time Senator Anthony Palumbo (R,C-New Suffolk) agreed.
“Session may be over, but our work is far from done. As Senator, I will continue the fight for our men and women in law enforcement and advocate for common sense proposals to crack down on crime and make our communities safer. We must also build upon our efforts to protect the environment and our drinking water,” he said.
“These challenges and many others must be addressed in order to make New York a safer, stronger and more affordable place to live for families, seniors and small-business owners as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Palumbo added (photo left).
Another official new to Albany, Senator Alexis Weik (R,C-Patchogue), said it was “a challenging session” that saw “Senate Democrats pass a Budget in April that drastically increased taxes by billions of dollars and they continued to advance an anti-law enforcement, anti-victim agenda—both of which I vehemently opposed. However, there were a few bright spots.
For example, we were able to work in a bi-partisan fashion to drive records amounts of school aid to the 3rd Senate District and I was able to get long-stalled grants moving again.”
Party Perspective
Views on the 2021 session diverged dramatically based on political affiliation.
Speaker Carl Heastie, head of the Assembly’s Democrat majority, was proud of the session. Minority Leader Will Barclay did not share the Speaker’s perspective.
“During one of the toughest times in our history, the New York State Assembly rose to the occasion to meet the challenges we faced.
This session we passed groundbreaking legislation and delivered a historic budget that met the needs of New Yorkers during this difficult time. Our work is helping to lead the recovery from this global pandemic and has put us on path to normalcy,” said Heastie.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the 107 members of our Assembly Majority for what we have accomplished. As always, we know that our work is never-ending when it comes to improving the lives of the people of this great state, and we stand at the ready,” the Speaker concluded.
Barclay said: “In the early hours while most New Yorkers slept, the Legislature wrapped up the 2021 Legislative Session. While there were a few notable pieces of legislation passed that will help everyday New Yorkers recover from COVID-19’s economic devastation, far too little was done to protect and strengthen their quality of life in the long term.”
“A federal bailout in the amount of $12.7 billion brought New York off the brink of financial disaster. But that money is only a temporary fix. This session will be remembered as one that raised taxes too much, spent far too much, and left New York State unsafe and unaffordable,” he added.
“Recent new laws have upended our criminal justice system and fueled an unprecedented spike in violent crime in communities across New York. Rather than restoring order, Albany Democrats have been systematically dismantling the rule of law piece by piece. The Assembly Minority Conference is committed to push even harder on behalf of innocent victims and protect the interests of those who protect us,” Barclay declared.
A statement from NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy was more pointed in its critique.
“Democrat lawmakers should hang their heads in shame after this embarrassment of a legislative session. Whether it was failing to impeach or even rein in the powers of this corrupt governor, or their radical-left, misguided priorities that will further crush our economy and make us less safe, Democrats have proven to be utterly incapable of representing the taxpayers of this state. They have ignored crime victims, dishonored dead seniors, turned their backs on those Cuomo abused, and destroyed the livelihoods of small business owners,” said the GOP leader. “The Republican Party is more energized than ever to break up the one-party rule that is destroying New York and we will go into the districts of every Democrat who protected this governor over their constituents. We are laser-focused on our mission of returning commonsense and integrity to the state of New York,” Langworthy declared.
