Albany, N.Y., April 15-State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) today said that every member of the New York State Senate Majority voted against common sense proposals, including a measure he sponsors to return unspent state funds to ratepayers, that would provide immediate and real relief to New Yorkers from skyrocketing utility bills in the midst of the ongoing and long-standing affordability crisis. 

The legislation, offered as amendments on the floor by O’Mara and Senator Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) would have ensured New Yorkers, who are being bombarded with skyrocketing energy costs, are able to keep more of their hard-earned money. For the second time this session, the Senate Majority struck down the proposals that would:

> Allow unspent funds from the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) “Climate Investment Account” to be returned directly to ratepayers. At a time when New Yorkers are having trouble paying their skyrocketing utility bills, there is nearly $3 billion that could be returned to ratepayers as credit on utility bills. (S.8461, sponsored by O’Mara); and 

> Provide a one-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday and two-year green energy tax holiday. Government taxes and fees account for between 25% to 50% of a customer’s utility bill. This bill would provide meaningful and immediate relief to ratepayers as they face skyrocketing energy costs. (S.8463, sponsored by Senator Rolison).

O’Mara said, "The Senate Minority Conference has repeatedly offered alternative plans and proposals that we believe are more focused on affordability, feasibility, and reliability, and which, if enacted, would better protect ratepayers from the ever-rising costs they're struggling under now. It's irresponsible for New York State to go on asking ratepayers to bear the burden of a strategy that's not working and that won't work as it stands. New York's ratepayers need relief now and Albany majorities keep saying no."

[WATCH Senator O'Mara's remarks on the Senate floor earlier today HERE.]

Rolison said, "Everywhere we go, the message is the same — families and small businesses are struggling to keep up with their utility bills, where taxes, fees, and surcharges are often more expensive than the energy usage itself. That’s why I’ve once again advanced this amendment to suspend these costly charges and deliver immediate relief to ratepayers. We’ve put this forward before, and we’ll keep fighting for it because the urgency is only growing. This is a practical, commonsense solution that meets people where they are, and I won’t stop pushing until we get it done."

Members of the Senate Minority Conference have previously advanced these proposals in an effort to provide affordability to New Yorkers. But once again, when given the opportunity to provide true relief and savings to New Yorkers, every single Senate Democrat chose politics over policy and said “no.”