Hochul’s Critique of Lawler Raises Eyebrows

Governor Kathy Hochul has surprisingly criticized Rep. Mike Lawler for not confronting his party. It’s a bit peculiar, really.

She seemed to laugh at Hudson Valley Republicans trying to tackle issues like rezoning and gerrymandering, but then went on to say that Lawler “wanted to play with salt,” mocking him as lacking “strength.”

This is quite a mess. Lawler appears to have given in to GOP pressures while trying to manage the state’s ceiling on salt deductions, which range from $10,000 to $40,000 for those earning under $500,000. Despite GOP norms, he seems to be navigating these issues.

Interestingly, even former President Donald Trump has advised Lawler to “retreat,” which is worth noting.

When looking back, it’s curious that New York Democrats, despite having control of the White House and Congress in February 2021, couldn’t effectively handle salt policy.

This situation suggests that Lawler’s actions might reflect broader power dynamics within the GOP—Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi, who previously halted salt tax deductions for example, has certainly resonated with Democratic ideals.

More troubling is the apparent complacency of Senator Chuck Schumer regarding these issues. Unless he’s prioritized fixing the salt issue, he seems to be overshadowed.

It’s difficult to gauge how Hochul plans to tackle New York’s challenges, considering her party’s past failings.

Regarding Lawler’s attempts to address gerrymandering, it’s unclear how he’ll react to Texas’s push to redraw house maps. While Hochul and others cry out for reform, the likelihood of immediate action seems slim. But long-term? It’s anyone’s guess.

On another note, tangible changes seem unlikely anytime soon. Hochul’s threats to “fight fire with fire” against New York’s gerrymandering landscape invoke memories of a state constitutional amendment from two years ago, which complicates matters further.

She didn’t contribute any significant principles to this cause. Instead, Hochul has been mum on the Democratic failures to handle gerrymandering during the last elections where they managed to maintain some seats against the GOP.

Incidentally, one bill Hochul could have succeeded with involved ensuring that abandoned clothing at airport security gets donated, a small, tangible change.

Her ability to collaborate with the state legislature seems limited right now, as evidenced by her losses, including the rejection of Judge Hector LaSalle for the state’s Supreme Court.

Moreover, she hasn’t managed to push through significant reforms in Congress’s flawed criminal justice policies, either, seeming to go along with some new problematic ones.

So, does she really stand up to her party? Lawler, for instance, has had a laugh at the expense of MAGA representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, while he also succeeded in pushing for the expulsion of disgraced Rep. George Santos.

Yet, Hochul doesn’t seem to confront figures like Zohran Mamdani, who many see as an extremist. It all comes off as a bit pathetic, especially since she’s taking aim at Lawler, who appears to be preparing for his run for governor next year.

Maybe there’s an element of jealousy at play here—could it be that Hochul envies Lawler’s principled stance as an effective moderate?