Members of New York’s Republican delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives have formally invited Governor Kathy Hochul to Washington, D.C. for a meeting aimed at addressing the state’s pressing challenges. The invitation, detailed in a letter dated February 18, 2023, follows Hochul’s recent assertions that no request had been made for a direct meeting with the delegation.
According to U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler’s office, the delegation’s letter seeks to improve coordination between the state government and federal lawmakers representing New York. The governor has not met with the GOP delegation since February 2023. Lawler’s office emphasized that the governor’s claim regarding a lack of meeting requests is inaccurate, citing the recent Politico article that highlighted her efforts to collaborate with House Republicans on health care coverage for low-income residents and those lacking legal status.
The letter criticizes Hochul for not engaging seriously with the Republican congressional delegation since taking office in 2021. It states, “Moreover, since becoming governor, you have made no serious efforts to work with the New York Republican congressional delegation, and instead have spent your time engaging in public attacks and a corrupt effort to gerrymander our congressional map on three separate occasions in a failed attempt to make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House.”
Hochul has frequently voiced her criticisms of the state’s House Republicans, particularly regarding the influx of migrants to New York in 2023 and changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the previous Trump administration.
In the letter, the Republicans extend their invitation to discuss various crucial topics, including health care, energy, housing, transportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, state spending, and congressional redistricting. The letter also highlights the GOP lawmakers’ initiatives on state and local tax payments, known as SALT, and their commitment to securing lifetime funding for the World Trade Center Health Program.
The GOP delegation concluded by urging Hochul to schedule a trip to Washington, D.C. “as soon as possible.” They stated, “As the only New Yorkers working in the majority in Washington, we have a real opportunity to affect policy change.”
This invitation reflects ongoing tensions between the governor and the Republican members of Congress, underscoring the challenges of bipartisan cooperation in addressing the state’s needs. The outcome of this proposed meeting could significantly influence future governance and policy initiatives in New York.
