Skoufis: No Tax-Payer Funded Self-Promotion

Senator James Skoufis (D-Orange County) is introducing a bill to prohibit the Governor from including her name, image, or signature on the forthcoming “inflation refund” checks announced as part of the budget deal. These state-issued–and state-funded–checks are slated to reach over eight million New Yorkers. While the Executive claims these checks will combat inflation and make a difference for New York families, these one-time checks of $150-$400 per household will function as a political gimmick rather than a meaningful policy to address New York’s affordability crisis. These checks are planned to prominently feature the Governor’s name.

“New Yorkers are facing an affordability crisis, and to use taxpayer-funded programs to capitalize on such a moment to shore up votes is wildly inappropriate,” said Senator Skoufis. “No Governor should have the opportunity for this kind of self-promotion, and this Governor would be well-served by paying less attention to her gimmicky checks and more attention to the deep-seated challenges facing New Yorkers such as crippling property taxes.”