Gov. Kathy Hochul expressed confidence that her administration will be able to weather just about any storm the federal government may create to hinder New York’s financial future.

“It’s a constant attack. We’ve been successful in court. We need the Supreme Court to back us up here as well on some other cases,” Hochul said Tuesday in an exclusive interview with Capital Tonight. “So, we are preparing for this, Susan. My budget contemplates the volatility that comes with a Donald Trump administration.”

New York currently has a rainy day fund that includes $14.5 billion which can be drawn upon in specific circumstances.  

Hochul is also pressuring the state’s seven Republican congressional representatives on issues including a federal Medicaid waiver that would allow New York’s Essential Plan to continue. 

“It’s a multi-pronged war,” she said. 

If the federal waiver is denied, the governor indicated she would again turn to the rainy fund mentioned earlier.  

When asked about the timeline for universal child care in upstate New York, the governor told Capital Tonight she needed to see how the three pilot programs in Monroe, Broome and Duchess counties fare before she can determine any timeline. Those three counties will be receiving a total of $60 million in this year’s budget.

“One thing we’re doing is, you have to have more capacity. You have to have locations. You have to have the workers,” she said. “We’re even providing free community college for education for those who want to go change careers when they’re 25 or older. We’ll cover the whole cost of getting you on the path to becoming an early childhood educator.” 

The governor does not appear willing to support the “New York for All” Act, which would prohibit police agencies from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and sharing information, and which is a top priority for immigration advocates.

When asked if she supported the bill she said, “No, our policy is what we need to have in the state of New York.”

Capital Tonight asked why. Her response?

“Because it’s working. But I will also know that my job is to keep New Yorkers safe and so what is hard to understand with the bill that you’re referring to is, already we do not use state police officers to assist with civil ICE enforcement. We just don’t do that. But we also have to have the flexibility that if a crime has been committed – not the offense of crossing the border – but a serious crime has been committed, I have to be able to assist when there’s a court order.” 

Should ICE be abolished?

“No, because ICE was created after 9/11 to protect our borders. I’m from Buffalo. We’ve had terrorists thwarted at the border come in from other countries who are trying to do harm to this country. So, I think what they’re doing now is excessive. They need to be reined in. It is wrong. Go after the real criminals.” 

Last year, a judge gave the state until February to come up with regulations to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, also known as the CLCPA. When asked if the state will meet the deadline, or if she will ask lawmakers to delay or suspend the mandates, she said conversations are underway.

“[The federal government] eviscerated our whole strategy for meeting these goals,” Hochul said. “I want to meet these goals more than you can imagine. I really do. I believe in fighting for our environment. I understand climate change; but I have to deal with realities.  The cards that have been dealt us right now. So, we’re working on managing our response to the February court case.”