Hochul Charts New York’s Recovery in First State of State Speech
The New York Times
Gov. Kathy Hochul was set to pledge $10 billion to boost the state’s decimated health care work force, and to direct funds to further combat gun violence.
ALBANY, N.Y. — In her first State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined her vision to shepherd New York State through its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, while unveiling initiatives to combat gun violence and make the state more affordable and equitable for the working class.
Ms. Hochul, a Democrat from Buffalo, vowed to fuel an economic comeback and position the state as a business-friendly haven, by proposing $100 million in tax relief for small businesses, accelerating existing tax cuts for the middle class and pouring billions of dollars into clean energy, infrastructure and economic development programs, according to a policy book released just before her speech.
She planned to unveil incentives to recruit and retain more teachers, and to fortify the state’s decimated health care work force through a $10 billion commitment to support wages and bonuses for health care workers, a boon for the state’s powerful health care union whose support could be instrumental for Ms. Hochul in her run for a full term as governor.
