told Spectrum News 1 that the absence of any changes in the governor\u2019s 30-day amendments<\/a> to the executive budget proposal did not mean the idea was dead, saying Hochul \u201clooks forward to continuing those discussions with the Legislature during the budget negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\nThis week, Hochul\u2019s budget director went even further, acknowledging that while absent from the 30-day amendments, more discussion is forthcoming and directly tying the law to the administration\u2019s concerns over rising energy costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think with appropriate engagement with the policymakers that created these laws in the first place, I think that you could get to a place where reasonable people can agree that no New Yorker should be faced with thousands of dollars in new costs because of a mandate that cannot be met,\u201d he said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s an open secret that Hochul will likely push for some sort of changes in the budget as she unsuccessfully did in 2023, the governor didn\u2019t elaborate Thursday on how exactly they would play into negotiations. It also remains unclear what the Legislature could theoretically receive for budging on its thus-far firm resistance to rollbacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe world has changed dramatically since 2019 \u2014 I wish it hadn\u2019t,\u201d Hochul said, blaming the pandemic, the federal government and inflation for pushing climate goals out of reach. \u201cI\u2019m not going to telegraph what we\u2019re talking about in our negotiations, but I think everybody knows that we have a real problem on our hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, Hochul infuriated legislative leaders by introducing policy discussions late in the budget process, including changing the way lieutenant governors are elected \u2014 a move she was able to use to her advantage in choosing 2026 running mate Adrienne Adams. The Legislature reciprocated with policy proposals of their own, ultimately pushing the budget to its latest adoption in 15 years.<\/p>\n
While the governor has long said she is more concerned with the substance of the budget than hitting the April 1 deadline, many in Albany have been banking on a relatively early budget deal given that Hochul and the entire state Legislature are up for reelection.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday, it was clear state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins didn\u2019t think rollbacks were the solution to the problem, indicating that another stalemate may be looming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not a conversation that we\u2019ve had, no,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re not closed to anybody\u2019s suggestions. I think we look at whatever is out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Washington\u2019s comments this week, environmental advocates immediately sounded the alarm over the potential for changes to the landmark law.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Yorkers are currently facing record-high energy bills, and one in four families can\u2019t afford to pay them,\u201d said Liz Moran, New York policy advocate for Earthjustice. \u201cThe main driver of those increases is the cost of gas and gas pipes \u2014 not our climate law. Failing to address gas as the problem is the actual \u2018own goal.\u2019 With the federal government decimating science-based climate protections every day, now is not the time for New York to do the same to our nation-leading climate law.\u201d<\/p>\n
The memo\u2019s circulation prompted immediate \u201cI told you so\u2019s\u201d from Republicans in the state Legislature who have long railed against the climate law and its purported cost implications.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe memo sent by NYSERDA today confirms exactly what members of the Assembly Minority Conference have said for years,\u201d said Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra. \u201cEnergy costs are climbing, and we need to immediately move away from illogical and unrealistic mandates that simply do not match current market capacity. While the cost estimates from NYSERDA may have surprised some, they pale in comparison to the sticker shock energy consumers are feeling every month.\u201d<\/p>\n