New York's state legislature finally passed Governor Kathy Hochul's $254 billion budget after a lengthy debate, resolving a month of delay past the April 1 deadline. The budget included a controversial provision allowing state employees reimbursement for legal fees related to alleged discrimination or retaliation by the federal government. Some lawmakers criticized this as an abuse of taxpayer money amid a concurrent investigation into Attorney General Letitia James. In contrast, others defended the provision, citing the misuse of legal systems for political targeting. While the budget passed primarily along party lines, enthusiasm appeared to focus more on passage rather than content.
"This certainly is the height of hypocrisy," state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) said during debate on the Senate floor.
"I can't imagine a majority of New Yorkers not being outraged that their hard-earned dollars that go to the government are now being used or can be used to pay for private attorneys to defend public officials against charges of crimes that they committed having nothing to do with their elected position," Lanza said.
Deputy State Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) argued that the law is needed "because we are currently in an environment politically where the legal system, the prosecutorial system, investigative bodies of government are being used to target political enemies."
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