Chairman Kassar's weekly wrap discuses the NYS Budget, the Zeldin and Schmitt Announcements and the Disorder at the Border.
New York State Budget tops $212 Billion; Comes with Massive Tax Hikes
Late, expensive, and using taxpayers to bail New York out of another mismanaged state budget. I wouldn't expect anything less from this Governor and State Legislature.
The state budget is a liberal's dream and taxpayers' nightmare; it throws all fiscal responsibility right out window while it continues to set a dangerous precedence going forward. A balanced budget does not matter to the Governor, as long as he has taxpayers to place the burden on, he will continue to recklessly spend.
For years, far before the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been spiraling out of control, writing checks and spending money we do not have. After a federal bailout to the tune of $12.6 billion, Governor Cuomo and the Democrat controlled State Legislature raised taxes by an additional $4 billion, making New York perhaps the most taxed state in the nation and further providing more reasons for residents and businesses to explore other options in friendlier states.
To add insult to injury, $2.1 billion of the state budget was allocated for illegal immigrants while less than half that amount was allocated to help small businesses survive.
The priorities of Democrats are beyond misplaced. They have, once again, prioritized those most willing to break laws over the hardworking taxpayers who wish to live in New York State, operate a small business, or simply provide for their family.
Zeldin, Schmitt Announcements
Congressman Lee Zeldin and Assemblyman Colin Schmitt announced their intentions to run for Governor and Congress respectively in 2022 this week.
Their entry into the Governors race and what is now New York's 18th Congressional District is welcome news as both have been excellent representatives to their districts.
Congressman Zeldin, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, served in the New York State Senate from 2011-2014 before defeating incumbent Democratic Congressman Tim Bishop in 2014. Lee is currently serving in his 4th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, a Corporal in the Army National Guard, was elected to the State Assembly in 2018. Colin easily won re-election in 2020. The seat was previously held by the Democrats until Colin flipped the open blue seat red.
We welcome them both and look forward to working with their teams.
Disorder at the Border
President Joe Biden wasted no time creating chaos at the border as illegal crossings are on pace to reach the highest levels in 20 years.
Shockingly 172,000 immigrants were apprehended in March alone under the Biden Administration. That represents an increase of 71% from March 2020 under the Trump Administration.
In addition to the humanitarian and public health crisis at our Southern Border, grave national security threats are a growing concern as two men on a terrorism watch list, and no fly list, were arrested after illegally crossing the border from Mexico into California, officials from the U.S. Border Patrol announced Monday. The men were apprehended in separate incidents, one on January 29th and the other March 30, signaling the utter disregard for our immigration laws and weakness portrayed by the Biden Administration.
Many members of the New York Congressional delegation have visited the border, or will shortly, to see firsthand the disorder President Biden has caused through the undoing of Trump era policies by executive order.
Today, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis posted this video taken in McAllen, Texas last night as she toured the border with Whip Steve Scalise and other members of Congress.
Congressman Chris Jacobs was also touring the border last night. His initial observations can be heard here.
In March, House Homeland Security Ranking Member, Congressman John Katko, with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy led a delegation to the Southern Border for a tour and discussion with Border Patrol Agents to assess the dire situation on the ground. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney was also among those who visited; you can watch some of that here.
"As a federal organized crime prosecutor back in the 90s, I was charged with going after the drug cartels. I had a fundamental understanding then, and I do now, that the cartels know when to exploit the southern border, and they're doing it now masterfully. They're doing it because President Biden rolled back a lot of the orders of the previous administration that were working" said Congressman Katko.
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April 9, 2021 / In CPNYS NEWS / By Gerard Kassar / Comments Off on Chairman Kassar's weekly wrap discuses the NYS Budget, the Zeldin and Schmitt Announcements and the Disorder at the Border.