Another year.
Another massive state budget.
Another press conference telling New Yorkers how “responsible” Albany has been.
Roughly $260 billion in spending. More programs. More promises. More headlines.
And yet, for working families, small businesses, and taxpayers, life in New York keeps getting more expensive, more complicated, and more frustrating.
That is not a coincidence. That is the result of career politicians budgeting for politics — not for people.
The Career Politician Playbook
Here is how Albany does it:
Spend more.
Announce more.
Avoid tough reforms.
Blame the next crisis on “unforeseen circumstances.”
Every budget is sold as “historic.”
Every problem is “being addressed.”
And every year, the cost of living keeps rising.
Career politicians measure success by how much money they spend.
New Yorkers measure success by whether they can afford to live here.
Those are not the same thing.
“Balanced” on Paper. Risky in Reality.
Yes, the budget technically balances. But spending is growing faster than inflation — setting up multi-billion-dollar gaps down the road.
That is not leadership. That is kicking the can until the next election cycle.
When families overspend, they call it debt. When Albany overspends, they call it “vision.”
New Yorkers deserve better than budget math designed to survive the next election cycle.
Medicaid: More Money, Same Problems
New York spends more on Medicaid than almost any state in America. Yet costs keep climbing, outcomes lag, and fraud remains a persistent issue.
Career politicians respond the same way every time:
“Spend more.”
Outsiders ask a better question:
Why isn’t the system working?
A smarter budget would crack down on fraud, reward results, reduce wasteful emergency care, and focus on smarter, preventative services.
Compassion without accountability is not compassion. It’s a blank check.
Education: Big Spending, Modest Results
New York pours enormous money into education — yet student performance often fails to match the investment. Meanwhile, other states that focused on proven literacy programs and accountability are seeing real gains.
Albany’s answer? Spend more.
An outsider’s answer? Fix what isn’t working.
Money does not educate children. Systems do.
“Affordability” That Doesn’t Feel Affordable
Albany loves to talk about affordability. But housing is still expensive to build. Child care is still expensive to run. Businesses still face endless red tape.
So the state subsidizes the problem instead of fixing it.
That is what career politicians do. Outsiders fix the cost structure.
Streamline permits. Cut delays. Make it easier to build, hire, and operate.
You don’t make life affordable by throwing money at high prices. You make it affordable by lowering them.
Stop Gambling With New York’s Future
When Wall Street is booming, Albany spends like the good times will never end. When markets cool, taxpayers are told to brace for cuts or new taxes.
A responsible government prepares for downturns. A political government pretends they won’t happen.
Surpluses should go to reserves, debt reduction, and long-term stability — not more permanent promises.
The Real Choice
This budget represents the same philosophy that has been running Albany for decades:
Spend more. Reform less. Hope for the best.
New Yorkers deserve an alternative.
A budget that:
- Controls long-term spending
- Fixes broken systems
- Demands results
- Lowers costs
- Plans for the future
- And puts taxpayers first
That’s not the career politician way. That’s the outsider way.
Because affordability is not built in press conferences. It is built with discipline, accountability, and courage.
And New Yorkers are more than ready for a government that finally works for them — not for itself.