Former Governor George Pataki expressed concerns regarding tax increases being contemplated by Governor Kathy Hochul and other moderate Democrats. He believes these increases, aimed at appeasing New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani and his progressive allies, could prompt a mass departure of residents from the state.
In a recent interview with billionaire WABC-AM radio owner John Catsimatidis on “Cats Roundtable,” set to air Sunday, Pataki commented, “It’s bad enough as it is. If that’s the case.” He added that New York State simply can’t bear such a burden.
“Taxes are already excessively high. Regulations are too stringent,” he continued. “People are fleeing New York for states like Florida and Texas.”
Interestingly, Hochul, who previously opposed raising the corporate tax rate, is now reconsidering her stance to help balance the state budget following Mamdani’s recent electoral victory.
This shift in attitude seems to be fueled by pressure from liberal factions, chanting “tax the rich,” suggesting that they expect Hochul to align with Mamdani, who is seeking at least $9 billion in extra funding for ambitious initiatives, including free public transportation.
Pataki posited that this change among moderate Democrats might stem from fears of losing their positions to far-left challengers. He noted, “I think they see Mamdani’s win and think, ‘Oh my God! We might have a primary, so we might as well raise taxes.'” He added that while Mamdani wants to increase taxes, there are concerns about whether Hochul and the legislature will support this move.
In response, Hochul’s spokeswoman, Kara Cumoletti, stated that Hochul has made it clear she doesn’t wish to raise taxes. She reminded that Pataki should recognize the importance of knowing the outcomes from Washington regarding Medicaid cuts before planning the state budget. Cumoletti suggested that if Pataki wants to avert tax increases, he should encourage Republicans in Washington to refrain from imposing harmful cuts on New York.
