In response to Governor Hochul’s State of the State address and policy book, Empire Center experts issued the following reactions:

On taxes:

“Governor Hochul’s promise to hold the line against tax hikes is crucial to restoring New York as a vibrant place to live, work and raise a family. If the state’s leaders truly care about affordability, they should be cutting taxes, not raising them.”

On health care and Medicaid:

“The governor had disappointingly little to say about New York’s dysfunctional health care system, which features some of the highest costs and lowest quality ratings in the U.S. Failing to put forward a strong reform agenda is a recipe for more of the same: soaring Medicaid expenses, sky-high insurance premiums and substandard care. The governor appointed a Commission on the Future of Health Care more than two years ago. It’s high time for that commission’s report to see the light of day.”

—Bill Hammond, senior fellow

On energy:

“Instead of addressing the flaws in New York’s energy policy, Hochul is choosing to vilify utilities, pressure the state’s independent regulator, and use taxpayer money to hide the fact that New Yorkers pay some of the highest electricity prices in the country.”

On education:

“The uncomfortable truth is that New York lags behind Mississippi and Alabama in achievement while leading the world in spending. Yes to better teaching and better teachers, but without addressing the root causes of New York’s underperformance, things will not improve.”

—Zilvinas Silenas, president and CEO

On regulatory reform:

“Governor Hochul hit a couple of right notes on New York’s burdensome regulatory environment. She promised to address the state’s environmental review process, SEQRA, and the delays and abuses its process causes for the types of development needed to make New York more affordable. And she committed to reviewing and reducing the red tape New Yorkers face starting businesses and living their everyday lives. Fixes to both could make New York a better place to live and work, but both will require a sustained effort from the Governor. So we will wait and see.”

—Cam Macdonald, adjunct fellow

The Empire Center, based in Albany, is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to promoting policies that can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.