Dan Stec releases statement on end of 2026 Legislative session

ALBANY | Following the end of the legislative session Friday, Sen. Dan Stec issued the following statement that read in full as follows: "At the beginning of this year's Legislative Session, Governor Hochul highlighted three specific issues that needed to be addressed and where common ground could be found: affordability, relief from high energy prices and advancing constitutional amendments to put dormant prisons in the Adirondacks back into use. Session concluded at 1 a.m. this morning and with it ended any hope of making meaningful gains on these priorities. "The state budget was nearly two months late and its 'solution' to provide relief to ratepayers was to provide insulting $150 gimmick checks. There was no stopping the CLCPA Green New Deal mandates or proposals to create a more diverse, affordable energy portfolio. When it came to making home ownership or any other costs associated with living in New York State more affordable, the governor and Democrats chose to increase taxes and state spending. At a time when a recent Siena poll showed that one-in-three residents are planning to move out-of-state within the next five years, the state budget only exacerbates New York's unsustainably high tax-and-spend climate. "In her State of the State program agenda, Governor Hochul called for constitutional amendments to put three closed prisons back into use: Camp Gabriels, Moriah Shock and Mt. McGregor. In the Senate, the constitutional amendment I sponsor for Camp Gabriels passed the Senate for the sixth consecutive year. But yet again, this amendment stalled in the Assembly. Instead of using the last week of Legislative Session to make a concerted push on an issue she herself highlighted as important, the governor and Democrat Legislative Leaders occupied their time advancing legislation allowing them to gerrymander Congressional and state Legislative Districts. "Passing constitutional amendments for prison reuse would go a long way in addressing many of the challenges our region and state face. From workforce and affordable housing to Olympic planning purposes, outdoor recreation opportunities and partnerships with institutions like Paul Smith's College, the Gabriels, McGregor and Moriah Shock sites offer myriad economic and quality of life possibilities. But because the governor and Albany Democrats dragged their heels on presenting a budget and spent the last week of Session engaged in political theater, presenting these amendments to voters is pushed back to 2029 at the earliest. "When I look back at this year's Legislative Session, I see missed opportunities and misguided priorities. At a time when an overwhelming majority of New Yorkers feel our state is trending in the wrong direction, decisive and forward-thinking action was needed. Instead, Governor Hochul and Democrat leaders presented the same unpopular status quo."

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Dan Stec releases statement on end of 2026 Legislative session

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