Invest in Our New York

Governor Hochul's Budget Chooses the Wealthy Over New Yorkers…Again In response to Governor Hochul’s tone deaf and misguided executive budget proposal, Invest in Our New York’s Campaign Manager, Brahvan Ranga, released the following statement: “Governor Hochul refusing to make the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share while federal Republicans strip our communities bare is doing Trump's work for him. Her claim that she won't ‘tax the wealthy just for the sake of raising taxes’ is insulting; the Governor herself acknowledged we are facing, at minimum, a $10.3 billion gap in federal funding, and that we do not have the funds for universal childcare in the long-term. We need to tax the rich because people are losing their healthcare, going hungry, and localities don’t have the funds to provide the basic services people need –– while New York millionaires pocket a $12 billion federal tax cut.

This isn't a policy debate—it's a crisis that demands immediate action. Governor Hochul says she's ‘found the money’ for universal childcare by having agencies tighten their belts, and that strong returns on Wall Street means there is no need to raise taxes on the wealthy. But she also admitted we don’t have the necessary funds for a true, universal childcare program in the long term. Governor Hochul is clearly kicking the can down the road to score points with her wealthy donors. But New Yorkers know – and support – the truth: you cannot fully fund universal childcare, replace lost federal funding, and build the New York we deserve without making the super-rich and highly profitable corporations pay what they owe in taxes. Anything less is a choice to let our communities suffer. Speaker Heastie, Majority Leader Stewart Cousins, and every legislator must step up in budget negotiations and do what Governor Hochul won't: tax the rich.

Gov. Hochul just presented her budget proposal and shocking absolutely no one, she did not include any #taxtherich policies. (And yet she admitted we don't have the funding for permanent universal childcare...yes, we are as confused as you are).

Here's our statement 👇

In response to Governor Hochul’s State of the State, the Invest in Our New York Campaign released the following statement: Instead of actually addressing New York's affordability crisis and the attacks coming from Washington, Governor Hochul boasted that she won’t raise taxes on the rich, effectively leaving working-class New Yorkers behind. Without new, robust, and consistent public funds, New Yorkers will suffer. True statewide universal childcare, where the workforce is paid a living wage, requires long term, stable revenue - not shifting funds from other programs and agencies year after year creating winners and losers.

In the same breath of acknowledging the 450,000 New Yorkers losing their health insurance and the thousands more who won't be able to afford their healthcare, Governor Hochul failed to put forth any tangible solution beyond a laughable commitment to ‘negotiate with the federal government.’ Families that rely on SNAP are seemingly left to starve by the Governor. New Yorkers need significant investments in the public systems and programs we rely on. The only way to do that is by making the super wealthy and highly profitable corporations pay their fair share.

Seventy-eight percent of New Yorkers support taxing the wealthy to address federal funding cuts and build the New York we deserve, but Hochul is still, bafflingly, siding with the billionaires who are pocketing astronomical federal tax breaks. Governor Hochul has a choice: tax the rich, or let our neighbors go hungry. Tax the rich, or let hospitals close. Tax the rich, or let New York's children get sicker. Governor Hochul: tax the rich, or get out of the way.

Happy State of the State Day to all New Yorkers who celebrate! Gov. Hochul made clear she's not really looking to address the affordability crisis or attacks from Washington.

Our response? #TaxTheRich or get out of the way!

If you want to read our FULL response 👇

And tell us YOUR response!

“Here’s the ‘actual story,’ Governor Hochul: if we don’t tax the superwealthy, people will die. “Since the federal funding attacks passed in July, it’s not just childcare that’s been an impossible bill for millions of New Yorkers to pay. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers cannot afford to see a doctor or pay for lifesaving prescriptions. Millions of New Yorkers will starve because their SNAP benefits were cut. Let’s not forget, childcare workers are still some of the lowest-paid workers in New York, and Governor Hochul has yet to explain how she plans to pay for their living wages – let alone full universal childcare in three years.

“Meanwhile, since 2017, New York’s millionaires and billionaires have increased their wealth by over 75 percent. Making them pay their actual fair share is not about “taxing the wealthy for the sake of raising taxes.” It’s so we can ensure every New Yorker stays healthy, puts food on the table, and sends their kids to childcare while still making ends meet. Because the millionaires and billionaires certainly are. The Invest in Our New York Campaign will fight for working-class families who call — and want to call — New York home, even if Governor Hochul doesn’t care if they live or die.”

Earlier today, @governor.ny.gov spoke with Dan Mannarino at @pix11.bsky.social, where she said “taxing the rich is 'off the table' because she won’t 'tax the wealthy for the sake of raising taxes.’

But here's the truth: if we don't #taxtherich, people will die.

Read our full statement here:

"Increasing taxes on wealthy NY & large corporations, while politically popular...opens Hochul up to Republican attacks as she runs for reelection."

💁‍♀️ACTUALLY💁‍♀️, NY Republicans want the wealthy to pay their fair share. Sounds like a great reelection move to us.

www.investinourny.org/2025poll

Tax the rich
Protect the people
Tax the rich
Feed the people
Tax the rich
House the people
Tax the rich
Care for people
Tax the rich
Tax the rich
Tax the rich
Tax the rich

Opinion | Mitt Romney: Tax the Rich, Like Me

Mitt Romney has joined the chat
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/o...

A new poll released today by me found:

• 9 in 10 voters canvassed last Sunday in Forest Hills support universal child care

• 7 of 9 supporters support taxing the rich and signed a letter to their NYS reps on the spot in 25-degree weather

You too can conduct your own poll: act.ourtime.nyc/sign-up

New Yorkers Back Mamdani’s Push for Free Child Care, Poll Shows

"A new poll released by Siena University on Tuesday found that nearly two in three voters across the state favor the new benefit and would support Mr. Mamdani’s plan to pay for it by increasing taxes on those earning more than $1 million a year."
#TaxTheRich
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/n...

Earlier today, the U.S. Senate Republicans voted against a critical extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, cementing nauseating healthcare cost increases for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. In response to this immoral decision, Invest in Our New York’s Campaign Manager Brahvan Ranga released the following statement: "Washington Republicans just voted against the only healthcare bill that provides life-saving relief for families on January 1. Now, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are about to see their insurance costs more than double; a family of four will pay over $17,000 more, making coverage unaffordable and forcing impossible choices between medicine, rent, and putting food on the table. “Governor Hochul and state lawmakers have a moral obligation to immediately act and protect New Yorkers from this manufactured crisis. The solution is popular and simple: make the wealthiest—those already benefiting from a $12 billion federal tax windfall—pay their fair share so everyone can afford to stay healthy, see their doctor, and purchase their prescriptions. Anything less is a dereliction of duty—allowing Washington Republicans' cruelty to define New York's future when Albany has the power to stop it."

🎤*tap tap tap* is this thing on?

Ahem....Washington Republicans just voted against the only healthcare bill that provides life-saving relief for families on Jan 1st.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO SAVE US. IT'S TIME GOV. HOCHUL & STATE LAWMAKERS TO #TAXTHERICH

US News website screenshot of NY ranking. There's a picture of the downtown NYC skyline. Next to that is the NYS flag and "New York" underneath that it says: #45 in Affordability #22 in Best States Overall #49 in opportunity

According to U.S. News & World Report's "Best States", New York ranks #45 in affordability and #49 in opportunity.

Unless we're willing to settle for a 🏆participation trophy🏆, lawmakers should #taxtherich so everyone can afford to call New York home.

While taking off-topic questions at a press conference yesterday, Governor Hochul announced that state agencies are implementing efficiencies funding cuts to deal with the federal budget shortfall. In response to this unpopular decision (78% of New Yorkers agree the wealthy should pay their fair share to address federal funding cuts), Invest in Our New York’s campaign Manager, Brahvan Ranga, released the following statement:

“At a time when New York millionaires stand to see a $12 billion tax break from the federal government, we thought Governor Hochul would finally make them pay their fair share to protect New Yorkers from Washington D.C.’s funding attacks. Instead, while millions of people are on the brink of losing their health insurance and their ability to put food on the table, Governor Hochul is bragging about making cuts to the services they rely on to survive. “She can’t have it both ways. If Governor Hochul wants to build a New York we all deserve—where everyone is healthy, fed, housed, and can afford childcare without going broke—then she must make the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share in taxes. Anything less is a choice to let our communities suffer.”

TFW @governor.ny.gov brags about letting New York communities suffer....🤨

But seriously, Gov. Hochul is rolling out cuts to state agencies all so she doesn't have to #TaxTheRich (you know, her donors). Even though it's wildly popular!

#MakeItMakeSense

Taxing the rich is wildly popular across party lines but even more so with Democrats.

We’re pretty sure that makes it a big tent policy…

Join experts and advocates for an online town hall about why and how corporations and the ultra rich should pay their fair share of taxes in New York State. Then get involved in the campaign that will make our affordability agenda a reality.

➡️ psc-cuny.org/TAXTHERICH

If we taxed lies, the rich would quickly become poor.

On a related note: the #TaxTheRich campaign launches this weekend, friends. Get ready to plug in.

If we're mutuals and you're not yet in the loop about the TTR campaign but want to plug in now, DM me 🙏

No one leaving New York City because of Mamdani, say two top real estate CEOs New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's democratic socialist views spark fears companies and capital will flee, but top real estate CEOs say it's not true.

Hey @governor.ny.gov this is great news! Corporations are here in New York, they WANT to be here in New York, and they’re not leaving!

So, about making these companies pay their fair share…

www.cnbc.com/2025/11/14/n...

Hey New York, u up?

🚨BREAKING: A new poll shows New Yorkers across the state want the wealthy to pay their fair share to fund universal childcare, housing & public transportation. State lawmakers must 👟STEP UP👟 and take the federal funding cuts head on! It's time to #TaxTheRich and #InvestInOurNY

New York has a $4 billion surplus right now and $30 billion in reserves. She has and can access what New Yorkers need!

$700M is needed to fund SNAP for all 3 million New Yorkers who are about to go hungry. Add the tens of thousands of grocery stores, bodegas, restaurants etc. that will feel the fiscal strain as SNAP retailers…

It’s time to meet the moment, Governor. And $106M ain’t it.

😏

For no reason in particular…

New Yorkers want to #TaxTheRich

Earlier today, Governor Hochul sent a letter to the Trump administration, urging USDA to release SNAP funds for people, including 2.8 million New Yorkers, who rely on the program to put food on the table. She also announced $11 million in funding for food banks to help "mitigate" the SNAP cuts. Neither the letter nor the $11 million will do what's actually needed to protect New Yorkers. Below is a statement from the Invest in Our New York Campaign: “The last thing New Yorkers need is another ‘strongly worded letter’ telling the Trump Administration that they’re hurting working-class families. What we need is a Governor willing to use her power to help New Yorkers keep food on the table by actually covering the federal SNAP cuts.” “It’s really quite simple: Tax the rich, feed the people.”

Oh good, another "strongly worded letter" from an elected official to the Trump Administration. This time, demanding they release SNAP funds. That'll show them 🫠

It's really quite simple, @governor.ny.gov: #TaxTheRich, feed the people.

Do you like Zohran's goals of universal childcare + free buses? That means you want New York State to tax the rich.

It also means you disagree with Governor Kathy Hochul, who's telling state agencies to reduce services.

Hochul is facing a primary next year; let us make #TaxTheRich the main issue.

NY is home to about 125 billionaires who are about to become astronomically richer, all thanks to the federal budget scam. But if we make them pay their fair share of taxes right here in NY, we can combat these federal funding gaps.
It's time to stop playing the blame game & finally #taxtheirch
/end

Gov. Hochul continues to blame Republicans for the devastation New Yorkers are facing –– she's not wrong. But as the State's top elected leader, she has the power to develop real solutions....

...and cutting programs and services ain't it. bsky.app/profile/inve...

Surprise Trump Move Will Upend New York Food Stamps New York counties thought they had months to prepare to implement SNAP work requirements. Now, they have weeks.

This isn't the first time Gov. Hochul has told agencies to keep their budgets flat. But now, she's blaming the Federal Budget Scam.

Except, these federal cuts make robust state services even MORE necessary! A recent @nysfocus.bsky.social story provides a key example: nysfocus.com/2025/10/09/t...

🚨A flat budget = budget cuts!🚨

Costs go up year over year. Think: union-negotiated salaries, utility costs (just like yours at home!), etc. Even if the scale of operations stayed the same year to year, costs would increase.

Responding to federal funding cuts, Governor Hochul has already charged State agencies to exercise fiscal discipline by preparing comprehensive strategies to limit potential long-term damage to vital programs. Moving forward, agency budget requests for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027 should not exceed the total SFY 2026 Enacted Budget agency funding levels, excluding one-time investments. As always, the effectiveness of all agency functions, programs, and services should be reviewed and all expenditures should be examined. Unnecessary duplication or overlaps should be eliminated.

But it's less of an ask than it is a tell – the letter TELLS agencies what their budget should look like. In this case, agency budgets for next year cannot exceed their budget for this year. In other words: keep your budget flat. Full letter: www.budget.ny.gov/guide/brm/fy...

Every October, Gov. Hochul's Budget Director sends a letter to state agencies asking them to submit their budget needs for the coming year (in this case, Fiscal Year 27, which starts on April 1, 2026). This will be included in the Gov's executive budget proposal released in mid-January.

On Thursday, New York State Budget Director Blake Washington sent a letter to agency commissioners, requesting that their budget proposals for the next fiscal year not exceed the amount of the current fiscal year; in other words, their budget requests for the 2027 Fiscal Year should remain “flat.” This follows a New York Focus report that already-strained government staff must scramble to enforce new federal SNAP requirements in a matter of weeks. In response, the Invest in Our New York Campaign released the following statement:

“While Gov. Hochul will frame this request as keeping budgets flat, we know the truth: This is a cut to public programs and services. As costs skyrocket and many agencies are already short-staffed, the governor wants public servants to do more with so much less. “Gov. Hochul needs to stop playing the blame game with D.C. Republicans and start acting in the best interest of the people she represents. Convene a special session, raise the public funds our state desperately needs by taxing the super-rich, and invest in the offices, programs, and services that support New Yorkers.”

🤓WONKY STATEMENT ALERT🤓

Gov. Hochul wants to cut New York State Agency budgets (again). But with [gestures wildly] everything going on right now, New Yorkers need to be able to depend on public programs AND the people who keep them running.

👇Our full statement👇 (& more wonkiness in this thread)