“The governor’s executive budget proposal for this year was $252 billion—I am shocked to see this number now jump to a bloated $256.5 billion in the Assembly one-house budget proposal. When I first took office in 2021, the Assembly one-house budget proposal was $208.3 billion. That is an increase of more than $48 billion, or 23.1%, in just four years.

“This level of out-of-control and out-of-touch spending is unprecedented and needs to be reined in before the state budget is finalized. Over the past couple weeks, I have been fighting for increased safety and better working conditions for our correctional officers statewide. Over the next couple weeks, I will be fiercely advocating for a more common-sense budget that not only addresses ongoing issues in our state prisons, but also addresses safety, affordability and cost-of-living issues so many New York families are forced to face each and every day. Our constituents deserve a fiscally responsible budget that addresses their needs—this proposal simply does not deliver.”