Read: O’Mara, Borrello, Sempolinski, and Palmesano react
Governor Kathy Hochul today delivered her 2025 State of the State address, including more than 200 initiatives that will put money back in people’s pockets, keep New Yorkers safe and ensure the future of New York is a place where all families can thrive.
“Your family is my fight — and I will never stop fighting for the people of New York,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers expect results and that’s why I fight day in and day out to make New York safer, healthier, cleaner, more affordable for you and your family — and that is what we’re doing with the initiatives announced as part of my 2025 State of the State.”


NY State Senator George Borrello, 57th Senate District:
“It’s encouraging to see some focus on affordability, but these proposals fall flat without addressing rising costs in other areas. Middle-class tax cuts, inflation refund checks, and an expanded Child Tax Credit may sound promising, but they will mean little to families already burdened by skyrocketing expenses. The Climate Act mandates could cost New York taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and raise utility bills by as much as 64 percent. Small businesses in New York are being crushed by costly regulations which are ultimately passed onto consumers. Without tackling these significant cost drivers, these proposals risk being little more than temporary fixes that fail to deliver meaningful relief for New Yorkers.”
NY State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, 132nd District
“If Gov. Hochul is serious about reversing the affordability, public safety and quality of life crisis facing our state, she will present the Legislature with a budget proposal that is fiscally responsible and addresses the concerns and financial struggles New York families and businesses are facing around our state. I urge the governor and legislative leaders to work with us in a bipartisan manner during the upcoming year to address these critical issues.”


NY State Senator Tom O’Mara, 58th Senate District
“New York State is not stronger, safer, saner, or more affordable under Governor Hochul and all-Democrat control of the Legislature, and there’s no true turnaround in sight. Governor Hochul puts forth an ‘affordability agenda’ chock-full of giveaways, higher and higher spending commitments, and flashy new programs that will only keep making New York a more expensive state in which to live, work, do business, raise a family, and pay taxes. There will be no let up for the middle class under all-Democrat, one-party control of New York government. The Albany Democrat bottom line ignores the middle class in favor of a politically driven, hard-left roadmap continuing to mandate huge state spending handouts. It will only keep driving this state into the ground economically, keep increasing costs across the board, keep killing jobs and economic opportunities, and keep chasing more and more New York taxpayers and families out of the state because they can’t afford to live here anymore.”
NYS Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski, 148th District
“We have a spending problem in New York that Governor Hochul is refusing to address. The governor and majority just pass the cost onto taxpayers, who are voting with their feet and leaving in unprecedented numbers…. I was also hoping Gov. Hochul would address the expired gaming compact with the Seneca Nation of Indians. The gaming compact expired in December of 2023. It is long past time for the Governor to negotiate a new gaming compact in good faith that protects the interests of the Seneca Nation and New York,” he said.
