“Just two years ago, Democrats in Albany quietly hiked their own part-time salaries 29%, from $110,000 to $142,000, making New York lawmakers the highest-paid state legislators in America. Spendthrift Governor Kathy Hochul, who publicly pretends to lament about state deficits, signed the historic pay increase without blinking an eye.
“Now, almost unbelievably, Democrats in the state legislature want to do it again — and more! They want to raise their salaries another 26% this year — to $180,000 — and change legislative elections to every four years from every two, so they don’t have to run quite so often. How convenient.
“In plain English, Democrats want bigger paychecks, fewer elections, and less accountability — for the privilege of driving New York State into a ditch economically and keeping it there.
“Meanwhile, New Yorkers are being bled dry by some of the highest taxes in America, congestion pricing, skyrocketing utility bills, endless tolls and transit fees, parking fines, and every other scheme Albany can dream up to squeeze more money out of working people. It is hard to imagine a more arrogant display of self-interest.
“If Governor Hochul were at all serious about unburdening New Yorkers and making the state more affordable, as she claims to be, she would cut taxes, cut spending, and leave the Constitutionally-mandated two-year election cycle alone.
“New Yorkers take notice: Albany can make life more ‘affordable’ for all of us, but Democrats in power perennially choose against it. All they want is more power, more of our money, and less accountability. It’s Tammany Hall on steroids.”