Block Hochul's Proposed State Budget - SCRIPT

Instructions & script below. Scroll down and click "Call Me" to proceed. 

  • First, you'll receive a phone call from a 202 area code -- pick up!
  • Second, you'll hear a brief message from JFREJ.
  • Third, follow the instructions to be connected to Governor Hochul's office. 
  • Fourth, leave your message or have a conversation with someone in the office, if they pick up. 
  • Stay on the line to be connected to Senate Majority Leader Heastie and Assembly Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. 
  • If for any reason you have an issue with the call tool, you can use this script and call offices directly: 
    • Governor Hochul: 1-518-474-8390
    • Andrea Stewart-Cousins: 1-518-455-2585
    • Carl Heastie: 1-518-455-3791

 

Script for Governor Kathy Hochul

Hello, my name is [name], and I'm a Jewish constituent from [neighborhood] and a member of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice.

I'm calling because I'm outraged by Thursday's announcement of a “handshake” budget deal. Based on statements from legislative leaders, it's clear this process is dishonest, undemocratic, and completely out of step with what New Yorkers actually need.

Wealthy New Yorkers must pay their fair share so our state can be a place where all of us can live, raise families, and age with dignity. The proposed pied-à-terre tax is good, but will fill less than 10% of New York City's budget deficit.. 

What's currently in this budget deal is nowhere near enough to address the affordability crisis facing people across New York. It fails to adequately respond to cuts to the Essential Plan and Medicaid. It refuses to meaningfully invest in the childcare workforce that families and providers desperately rely on. 

And it falls to protect immigrant New Yorkers from Trump's deportation machine. Ending 287(g) is good but allowing local & state police to still share information and informally collaborate with ICE is unacceptable.  

I am calling on  you to listen to the people of New York, listen to legislative leaders, and fight for a budget that actually creates sustainable revenue by taxing the rich, and delivers a New York for ALL.

Thank you.

 

Script for Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins & Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie 

Hello, my name is [name], and I'm a Jewish New Yorker from [neighborhood] and a member of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice.

I am calling to express my support for the [Assembly Leader / Senate Majority Leader] during the ongoing budget negotiations in light of the Governor's announcement of a so-called handshake deal. 

Like you, I am outraged that the Governor is attempting to go around the legislature during the negotiation process. It is dishonest, undemocratic, and makes it clear that Governor Hochul is completely out of step with what New Yorkers actually need. Thank you for standing up and speaking out against this unfair process. 

At the same time, I am urging you to hold the line when it comes to raising taxes on the wealthiest individuals and corporations, AND investing in our childcare and healthcare infrastructure so that all New Yorkers can raise families and age with dignity, AND banning state and local law enforcement from colluding with ICE.

We need a state budget that addresses the impending cuts to Essential Plan and Medicaid so that no one will lose access to health care. We need a state budget that meaningfully invests in the child care workforce that families and providers desperately rely on. We need a state budget that raises sustainable revenue to fund these programs by taxing the rich. And we need a state budget that delivers a New York for ALL.

Thank you.

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BONUS: You can also call your individual legislator to make sure they are doing everything in their power to support taxing the rich and universal childcare by visiting this tracker.

What you need to know about Hochul’s proposed budget:

  • It includes no new income or corporate taxes, just the pied-à-terre tax on second homes, which will not generate anywhere near enough revenue to fund the care economy we need.
  • It fails to adequately respond to Trump’s cuts to the Essential Plan and Medicaid – and one million New Yorkers are at risk of losing their healthcare on July 1st.
  • It claims to invest in childcare but refuses to fund the workforce enough to deliver truly universal childcare. 
  • It ends formal collaboration between state agencies and ICE but still allows local and state police departments to share information and informally collude with ICE.