North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik helped cap off the legislative session with a heated speech criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul in Albany on Monday.Stefanik joined Senate Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Leader Will Barclay to address Republicans at the state Capitol. The lawmakers held a joint press conference following their closed-door meeting,”Another year, another failed radical, reckless agenda and legislative session in New York state passed by single-party Democrat rule, led by the worst governor in America, Kathy Hochul,” Stefanik said. “I dubbed her the worst governor of America because she is.”The congresswoman went on to criticize the state budget, saying the session ended with more spending, more mandates and more excuses.Hochul signed the $254 billion budget last month after multiple extensions.The legislation will raise spending on Medicaid, which nearly a third of the state relies on, by more than $4 billion. That increase is set to be paid for by a new tax on health plans approved by the federal government last year. Hochul and other lawmakers see the investment as a safety net amid threats to Medicaid at the national level.Likewise, Section 8 housing cuts in Washington, D.C. prompted a $50 million housing voucher program that will help pay rent for some 2,500 low-income people in the state.Following Stefanik’s remarks, the New York State Democratic Party released a statement in response.”While Stefanik lies to her constituents faces about her and Trump’s plan to gut Medicaid, New Yorkers see right through it,” it stated. “They know Governor Hochul’s budget puts money back in their pockets, cuts taxes for the middle class and makes our streets and subways safer.”New York Democratic Party Spokesperson Addison Dick went on to say, “Elise Stefanik dodged question after question because there’s no good way to defend ripping away health care from two million New Yorkers. While Stefanik lies to her constituents’ faces about her and Trump’s plan to gut Medicaid, New Yorkers see right through it – and they know Gov. Hochul’s budget puts money back in their pockets, cuts taxes for the middle class, and makes our streets and subways safer.”Stefanik also criticized a $10 million fund that could be used by state officials to cover legal fees for actions taken against them by the Trump administration.She called it a “slush fund” to bail out New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is under investigation by the FBI in Albany for real estate and mortgage transactions.The speech in Albany comes after Stefanik publicly declared interest in running for governor in 2026 and launched a new fundraising PAC, “Save New York.”If Stefanik were elected, she would be the first Republican elected to statewide office in New York since former Gov. George E. Pataki in 1994.Hochul has said she’s ready to take on any Republican at the polls.
North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik helped cap off the legislative session with a heated speech criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul in Albany on Monday.
Stefanik joined Senate Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Leader Will Barclay to address Republicans at the state Capitol. The lawmakers held a joint press conference following their closed-door meeting,
“Another year, another failed radical, reckless agenda and legislative session in New York state passed by single-party Democrat rule, led by the worst governor in America, Kathy Hochul,” Stefanik said. “I dubbed her the worst governor of America because she is.”
The congresswoman went on to criticize the state budget, saying the session ended with more spending, more mandates and more excuses.
Hochul signed the $254 billion budget last month after multiple extensions.
The legislation will raise spending on Medicaid, which nearly a third of the state relies on, by more than $4 billion. That increase is set to be paid for by a new tax on health plans approved by the federal government last year.
Hochul and other lawmakers see the investment as a safety net amid threats to Medicaid at the national level.
Likewise, Section 8 housing cuts in Washington, D.C. prompted a $50 million housing voucher program that will help pay rent for some 2,500 low-income people in the state.
Following Stefanik’s remarks, the New York State Democratic Party released a statement in response.
“While Stefanik lies to her constituents faces about her and Trump’s plan to gut Medicaid, New Yorkers see right through it,” it stated. “They know Governor Hochul’s budget puts money back in their pockets, cuts taxes for the middle class and makes our streets and subways safer.”
New York Democratic Party Spokesperson Addison Dick went on to say, “Elise Stefanik dodged question after question because there’s no good way to defend ripping away health care from two million New Yorkers. While Stefanik lies to her constituents’ faces about her and Trump’s plan to gut Medicaid, New Yorkers see right through it – and they know Gov. Hochul’s budget puts money back in their pockets, cuts taxes for the middle class, and makes our streets and subways safer.”
Stefanik also criticized a $10 million fund that could be used by state officials to cover legal fees for actions taken against them by the Trump administration.
She called it a “slush fund” to bail out New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is under investigation by the FBI in Albany for real estate and mortgage transactions.
The speech in Albany comes after Stefanik publicly declared interest in running for governor in 2026 and launched a new fundraising PAC, “Save New York.”
If Stefanik were elected, she would be the first Republican elected to statewide office in New York since former Gov. George E. Pataki in 1994.
Hochul has said she’s ready to take on any Republican at the polls.