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Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate in New York’s governor’s race Bruce Blakeman criticized Democratic lawmakers’ tax hike proposals in the state Legislature’s one-house budgets released earlier this week.
The state Senate’s plan, which was advanced on Thursday, March 12, expects to put up to $3 billion into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers through a personal income tax surcharge on all New Yorkers bringing in more than $5 million annually. Senate Democrats are also proposing to increase the top corporate tax rate from 7.25% to 9% for all New Yorkers with business income exceeding $5 million annually.
Lawmakers in the state Assembly also included a robust “tax the rich” plan in their one-house budget, which includes personal income tax increases for New Yorkers making over $5 million per year.
These proposals build on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s push to include an additional city income tax of 2% on anyone earning more than $1 million a year and an increase of the state’s top corporate tax rate to 11.5% in the city’s budget. Gov. Kathy Hochul has repeatedly rejected tax hikes of any kind in the upcoming state budget.
“Kathy Hochul and Mamdani have a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” Blakeman said in a statement on March 10.
“When big companies and their executives leave New York, they take with them jobs and economic activity, leaving the middle class with the tax burden,” he added. “Florida has more people, and their budget is half of New York. Raising taxes is a bad idea!”
Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki hit back, saying New Yorkers are spending more on groceries and the state’s small businesses are struggling because of Trump’s tariffs, which he claims Blakeman supports.
“While Governor Hochul is demanding full tariff refunds, cutting middle-class taxes, and putting money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, Blakeman supports squeezing families, small businesses, and farmers,” Radulovacki added.
What Blakeman, Hochul say about ‘ISIS-inspired’ attack near Gracie Mansion
Two men accused of igniting homemade bombs during a protest outside of Mamdani’s official residence on March 7 — Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, of Pennsylvania — were indicted on federal charges of attempting to support ISIS and use of a weapon of mass destruction on March 9, USA TODAY reported.
Two improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, were lit outside of Gracie Mansion, one of which contained “a dangerous and highly volatile homemade explosive,” according to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and a third suspicious device was found in a nearby vehicle.
While investigators don’t have any information that connects the devices to the U.S. and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran, the federal complaint unsealed on March 9 revealed both men involved said they were inspired by the Islamic State.
In one of several responses to the incident, Hochul said state police increased their presence at sensitive sites across New York and more than 1,000 National Guard members continue to be deployed at critical transit sites throughout the city.
“Incredibly grateful for New York’s Finest who ran toward danger (on March 7) to protect others,” Hochul said in an X post on March 8. “There is no place for violence of any kind in our state and those responsible for this cowardly act will be held accountable.”
Blakeman, however, has said Hochul “is making New York less safe.”
“An 18-year-old threw an explosive device near a protest and law enforcement officers in Manhattan,” Blakeman said in a March 11 Facebook post. “This is what failed leadership looks like … When I’m sworn in as Governor on January 1st, I will make New York safer and put New Yorkers first.”
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY tax hikes, ‘ISIS-inspired’ attack in NYC stir up governor’s race
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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