Hochul says no special session, no tax hikes for 'bailout' of Congress

And U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney blames Zohran Mamdani for the federal shutdown.

Good afternoon — It’s Thursday and Candy Corn Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• Hochul said there will not be a special session or income tax hikes to supplant federal food assistance funding as the state spends $106 million.

• New York is asking to overhaul its Build-Ready Program for renewable energy projects after it only produced one in five years.

• Do you have an idea of where New York’s new nuclear power plant should be? The New York Power Authority wants you to make your case.

• U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney said it’s Zohran Mamdani who should be blamed for the federal government shutdown.

• New York ranked last again in tax competitiveness according to an annual analysis.

Names in today’s CapCon: Kathy Hochul, Legal Aid Society, New York Power Authority, Public Service Commission, NYSERDA, Empire State Development, Claudia Tenney, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Zohran Mamdani, Bruce Blakeman

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Hochul on Thursday (New York Governor’s Office)

🗣️ Hochul says special session, income tax hikes are off the table

If you were hoping the state Legislature would return to Albany before January, I have bad news for you.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said she’s not going to ask lawmakers to return to the state Capitol for a special session amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for low-income New Yorkers are not expected to be replenished at the start of the month Saturday, leaving recipients without the aid they typically rely on to feed their families.

Hochul has now used emergency measures, via a “food emergency,” to unlock $106 million that will go toward food assistance programs and food pantries.

State law allows a governor to take certain actions — like expediting funding — if they declare an emergency. That’s what’s happening here.

She’s also deploying the Empire State Service Corps and SUNY Corps, which are programs that typically connect students with opportunities in public service. They’ll help out food banks and food pantries.

The funding Hochul has unlocked so far is only about a sixth of what some advocates say would help fill the full void through the month of November.

“We call on Gov. Hochul to allocate up to $650 million in state funds to ensure full SNAP benefits in November,” the Legal Aid Society, a legal services group, said in a statement. “The state has both financial means and the responsibility to prevent families from going hungry.”

Hochul hasn’t said that she’ll cap the state’s funding toward food assistance at $106 million. But she made clear Thursday that the state can’t supplant the federal aid they would’ve received.

“This is not a bailout for the federal government because it’s their job to feed Americans,” Hochul said.

New York is already expecting to have to fill gaps in its state budget left by federal funding changes, including the possibility of having to shoulder the cost of administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Some advocates have called on Hochul and lawmakers to convene a special session to get ahead of those shortfalls. Hochul said Thursday that’s not going to happen.