March 17, 2025

First meeting of the General Joint Legislative Budget Committee (the leaders) took place earlier today. Here in Albany we call this group of leaders the ‘Mothership’.

New York lawmakers agree on ’98 percent’ of the state’s $252B spending plan
The Senate and Assembly kicked off formal budget talks Monday afternoon.

By Bill Mahoney | 03/17/2025 03:33 PM EDT
Politico, 3/17 – ALBANY, New York — State legislative leaders said Monday that early budget talks are proceeding apace as they start a scramble to wrap up the spending plan by March 31 — despite significant financial uncertainty emanating from Washington.

“There’s nothing the governor proposed that was a shock or a curveball,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said. “The Assembly, Senate and governor — 98 percent of the things — we’re in the same place.”

Lawmakers formally kicked off the final stage of budget negotiations Monday afternoon when the Assembly and Senate held their annual “Mothership” meeting in which the four conferences laid out their priorities and launched a series of subcommittees tasked with negotiating policy-specific details.

The meetings typically serve as a prelude to three-way talks with the governor. The legislative leaders discussed the budget with Gov. Kathy Hochul last Wednesday and are due to have more frequent meetings soon.

The spending plan — which Hochul estimated would cost $252 billion and the two houses of the Legislature set slightly higher — is due in two weeks. “We believe it’s realistic, absolutely,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said of meeting this deadline.

There are a couple of big questions left to answer, though. Prime among them is how to help the MTA with a $68 billion, five-year capital plan — a hole that would be more difficult to fill if the federal government succeeds in blocking congestion pricing. Lawmakers have floated ideas such as a tax on deliveries, but so far, no concrete plans have emerged.

“It’ll be part of what we’ve begun today — a comprehensive look at our alternatives,” Stewart-Cousins said. “We’re obviously looking to the federal government to be helpful in many ways as well.”

“Not expecting much,” Heastie interjected.

“However, they certainly deserve the opportunity to step up,” Stewart-Cousins said.

There’s always the possibility that other federal budget changes could force drastic midyear cuts to New York’s spending plan too.

“At this point, we’re just asking them not to hurt us,” Heastie said. “I’m not prepared to negotiate a budget that anticipates pain. If we have to come back and deal with pain, we’ll do that — hopefully with an explanation from the seven Republican members of Congress who would have to do anything to hurt New York.”

Would New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand — who propped up the Republican’s continuing resolution on the federal budget last week — deserve criticism as well?

“They’re in the majority,” Heastie said of Republicans.

The formal part of the budget hearing provided the Legislature’s Republicans with one of their most prominent platforms to condemn the Democratic spending plan. Both the Assembly and Senate minorities agreed there are many things they like in the proposals, but they come at the expense of making New York even more tax-heavy and unaffordable.

“I don’t know if you can have too much green on St. Patrick’s Day, but the way these budget proposals spend money, they may be the exception to the rule,” Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said.

First thing this morning we sent you our recap of what transpired in D.C. over the last 3 days, to include some information about what is in (and what was omitted) in the Continuing Budget Resolutions that passed in both houses and then was immediately signed into law by President Trump. Here’s more from the National Council:

A government shutdown was averted Friday evening when the Senate passed the House’s Continuing Resolution (CR), which President Trump then signed into law. The CR funds the federal government through Sept. 30, mainly at FY24 levels with limited exceptions.

Some important points contained in the CR:

Overall, funding for mental health and substance use programs is maintained at current funding levels, including Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Grants and Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) grants.
The bill reduces funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Health Surveillance and Program Support by approximately $144 million.
Medicare telehealth flexibilities are extended through the end of September.
Read a full summary of what is in the CR.
Watch a recording of the National Council’s March 13 webinar discussing the CR.
Attention turns now to the reconciliation process with its potentially significant cuts to Medicaid. The House has told the committee overseeing Medicaid to find $880 billion in savings from programs under its jurisdiction. If that fiscal target is finalized, meeting it would be unlikely without significantly impacting the Medicaid program.

Previously, the senate indicated their preference for a two-bill strategy, the first of which would not require the same level of cuts as in the House version. It is yet to be determined how exactly the process will play out over the next several weeks and months.

Your voice is vitally important!

The House and Senate both stand in recess, a time when members traditionally return to their districts and touch base with their constituents.

If you see your representatives are holding town halls — virtual or in person — attend and make sure they know how important Medicaid is to the health and wellbeing of your community! And if you attend a town hall, review the National Council’s talking points about the importance of Medicaid.

To find scheduled town halls, check social media accounts and websites run by your elected officials and their staff, including:

Facebook
Twitter/X
Official government websites
Check sections on Press Releases, Events and Media Alerts.
Official government newsletters
Newsletter sign-up pages are typically found on their websites.
Call/email elected officials’ offices
Click here to find your Congressional Representative/Senators and their contact information.

Nearly 20,000 letters have been sent to Congress around Medicaid via our advocacy platform… huge thank you to our amazing members and advocates who have already taken action!

If you haven’t had a chance to send a message to your lawmakers, you can do so here. Don’t forget to add a personal touch in the open text box. Share your story about who you are and the impact Medicaid has had on you, your community and your ability to improve access to care.

Remember to call, too! Visit this page to connect with your lawmaker’s D.C. office. A script will pop up for you to reference during your call.

We are monitoring events and will keep you updated on further developments.