ALBANY – There’s a discrepancy that stands out!
The state budget plan from Gov. Kathy Hochul has been revealed to be nearly $9 billion more than her office initially indicated, elevating the already unprecedented and delayed spending package to an astonishing $277 billion.
In a sharp statement, Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra (R-Nassau) remarked, “It seems Democrats had to approve the State Budget to discover its contents.”
He further criticized, “Albany Democrats sought an unchecked spending authorization from New York taxpayers, executed in secrecy. Such backward budgeting may align with Democratic principles, but it burdens families who ultimately settle the expenses.”
Approximately $7 billion of the $8.5 billion increase is due to the state allocating nearly $10 billion to cover health insurance benefits for about 1.4 million individuals who were previously under the state’s essential plan.
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The spending shift affects the “Aliessa population,” which includes non-citizens like greencard holders who require state-provided health coverage under a court directive but are restricted from using federal Medicaid funds as per HR1, enacted last year.
Despite the Trump administration’s earlier prohibition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved this funding approach earlier this year for non-citizen health benefits in New York, using federal Medicaid resources.
“Everything we do is fiscally responsible,” Hochul assured reporters last month when she announced a $268 billion state budget agreement.
However, the method for sustaining these benefits once the $10 billion fund is exhausted in December 2028 remains “TBD,” according to the plan.
Hochul’s office did not address the unclear financial strategy for managing taxpayer funds, even as New York’s budget reached record levels.
“The updated All Funds number is a more accurate reflection that includes additional federal funding, a majority of which recently became eligible to spend,” stated Hochul spokesperson Tim Ruffinen to The Post.
