Senate Democrats Kill Bill to Repeal Congestion Pricing, Block MTA Audit

(ALBANY, NY) - Democrat members of the Senate Committee on Transportation yesterday blocked legislation sponsored by Senator Jack Martins to repeal congestion pricing and audit the MTA. The bill was placed on the agenda per a motion for committee consideration made by Senator Martins, and voted down by Senate Democrats. 

The bill (S.533) would have put an end to congestion pricing – the punitive tax levied on drivers coming into Manhattan – and also required an audit of the MTA in an effort to restore fiscal sanity, transparency and accountability to the historically mismanaged agency.

“This legislation offered a real, actionable path to expose where the billions sent to the MTA are going—and Senate Democrats killed it to protect the status quo. Every vote against this commonsense bill is a vote for deception, waste, and corruption. Congestion pricing is a shameless cash grab that punishes everyday New Yorkers—parents taking their kids to doctor appointments, families enjoying a day in the city, first responders, and union workers who keep the city running. The message from Albany Democrats is clear: they’d rather side with a mismanaged bureaucracy than fight for transparency, accountability, and relief for hardworking commuters,” said Senator Steve Rhoads.