Good Afternoon!

Thank you for being a loyal supporter of the House GOP Battleground Fund - the driving force behind Republican victories across New York!

As you know, this vital effort, led by House GOP Leadership Chairwoman and proud Upstate Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, is focused on flipping and defending key battleground congressional seats right here in New York - critical seats that decide the balance of power in Congress.

We’re grateful for your continued support and wanted to share a few important updates from this week:

Hochul’s Reckless, Bloated NYS Budget Disaster

Finally, after weeks of waiting, Governor Kathy Hochul announced her disastrous $254 billion state budget - the latest budget in over 15 years and one of the most reckless in New York history. Chairwoman Stefanik called out the budget’s $13 billion increase over last year’s already bloated spending, warning it will further fuel New York’s affordability crisis, drive families out of the state, and reward political allies while punishing taxpayers.

Chairwoman Elise Stefanik released a scathing statement on Hochul’s budget -

"Democrats and Republicans alike are rightly skewering Kathy Hochul and her budget for her sheer incompetence and catastrophic policies hurting New York.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s disastrous $254 billion budget is not only the latest budget in over 15 years, but also it is a staggering $13 billion increase over last year’s already bloated budget and it is a double down of her failed policies that have bankrupted New York’s hardworking families.

Under Kathy Hochul, New York already leads the nation in population loss due to unaffordability, sky-high taxes, and out-of-control crime. Hochul’s latest catastrophic budget will further exacerbate the mass exodus from our great Empire State.

Even elected Democrats have publicly declared the budget process and outcome "shameful" and have shredded various aspects of Hochul’s budget.

Hochul puts New Yorkers last as she pours hard earned taxpayers funds into sanctuary city policies that incentivize illegal immigration all while diverting resources from our underfunded veterans’ services and law enforcement.

Hochul once again perpetuates New York’s violent crime crisis by refusing to fully repeal disastrous bail reform laws, leaving our neighborhoods less safe and emboldening criminals.

Her budget doubles down on insane gas stove bans and unaffordable energy regulations that will further crush families and small businesses already grappling with soaring utility bills.

And in true NY Democrat corruption fashion, the cherry on top is Hochul’s secret taxpayer-funded slush fund for corrupt Tish James to use hard earned NYers money to defend herself in court for her illegal mortgage fraud. 

Truly Democrat corruption at its finest led by Kathy Hochul. 

And as always, Governor Hochul’s refusal to eliminate New York City’s congestion pricing toll - a punishing unaffordable tax opposed by a vast majority of New Yorkers - demonstrates her utter disregard for the financial burdens facing commuters, workers, and small businesses.

The process behind this budget, the latest in 15 years, reeks of cronyism and incompetence. New Yorkers deserve a transparent, fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes our needs, not the desperate attempt to shore up a politically weakened and toxic governor who is desperately trying to shore up her abysmal poll numbers.

As the highest-ranking Republican in New York, I resolutely oppose Hochul's unaffordable plan and will continue fighting to restore commonsense policies that put New Yorkers FIRST.

Change is coming. And we must work together to SAVE NEW YORK from Hochul’s sheer incompetence and ineptitude."

See Elise’s post on Instagram here.

Stefanik Commends Federal Investigation into NY A.G. Letitia James’ Alleged Mortgage Fraud

The FBI and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York have launched a scorching investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, a darling of the progressive left machine, for alleged mortgage fraud. This scandal lays bare the corruption festering among New York’s Democrat elite, eroding public trust in their sanctimonious grip on power. 

House GOP Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik stated -

"I commend the FBI and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York for investigating New York Attorney General Letitia James over mortgage fraud. Nobody is above the law. These serious allegations—falsifying records to secure favorable loan terms on properties in Virginia and New York—threaten public trust in our institutions. The hypocrisy is staggering: Tish James allegedly committed the same crime that she falsely and illegally prosecuted President Donald Trump for."

Read Chairwoman Stefanik’s full press release here.

NYGOP Chairman Ed Cox stated -

"The fact that Attorney General Letitia James is getting a $10 million taxpayer-funded bailout to cover her personal legal fees is an outrageous abuse of power and a slap in the face to every New Yorker struggling under the weight of inflation, high taxes and crumbling public services.

This is what corruption looks like in plain sight: political insiders rigging the system to protect their own, while hardworking families get shortchanged. Tish James used her office to wage partisan lawfare against her political opponents, and now New Yorkers are footing the bill for the consequences.

There is no justification for forcing taxpayers to bankroll the personal legal problems of the state’s top law enforcement officer. This is a direct betrayal of public trust, and it shows just how far Democrats in Albany will go to protect their power and their allies.

Every Democrat who remains silent is complicit in this disgraceful misuse of public funds."

Continued Chaos at Columbia

Columbia University once again made headlines after descending into lawlessness as masked pro-Hamas agitators took over a campus library, bombarding students studying for finals with chants for a ‘global intifada.’ The violent takeover is the latest example of elite universities prioritizing radicalism over education, safety, and civil rights.

House GOP Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik stated -

"Police arrested about 40 radical, antisemitic agitators at Columbia. I hope they will face serious consequences for their unlawful actions. 

I applaud law enforcement for restoring law and order. No student should feel unsafe on campus, and universities must hold these extremists accountable. I will continue fighting to protect Jewish students and uphold the rule of law."

Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) stated -

"Hochul, Adams, and school administrators, have once again failed to protect Jewish students at Columbia. These anti-American terrorists and Hamas wannabees are targeting Jewish students. They need to be arrested and prosecuted.

Furthermore we must pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act immediately and hold these schools accountable."

Read more in Bloomberg here.

UPDATE: Chairwoman Stefanik’s Efforts Lead to U.S. Dept. of Education Investigation into Saratoga Springs School Board

Following weeks of advocacy and sounding the alarm, Elise’s calls for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into the Saratoga Springs School Board for their violation of Title IX, finally reached a critical point. ICYMI: The district passed a resolution last month, permitting biological males to participate in girls' sports and access girls' locker rooms, which violated President Trump’s Executive Order that delivered federal protections against these acts.

House GOP Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik stated -

"After my strong public advocacy, I want to thank President Donald Trump and Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon for swiftly opening a formal investigation into the Saratoga Springs City School District for their failure to uphold Title IX protections for women and girls in sports. The Saratoga Springs School Board’s resolution allowing biological males to participate in girls’ sports and access girls’ locker rooms is a blatant violation of federal law under Title IX and an affront to the progress generations of women have fought to achieve."

Read more in the New York Post here.

NY POST COVER: ‘The Right Stef’

Chairwoman Stefanik graced the front cover of the New York Post recently, as she continues fighting in Congress and is considering a campaign for governor to save her beloved home state of New York from the decay of Kathy Hochul’s progressive policies.

House GOP Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik stated -

"If you look at the corruption crisis under Democrats over many, many years - whether it’s multiple governors in a row, not being able to complete their term because of major corruption issues, mismanagement issues - this is systemic to New York Democrats in Albany who have failed, and the people in New York deserve better.

I’m honored to have the most robust, most significant donor base of any Republican ever in the state of New York, and it is time that we work together as a team to save this state from the catastrophic policies."

New York State Assemblyman Chris Tague (C-Schoharie) stated -

"I don’t remember any Republican gubernatorial candidates since [former Gov.] George Pataki polling before they even announced that they were running having the margin that she has.

To win as a Republican in New York State, you have to perform well in upstate New York, and I think that she’s the candidate that could do that."

Read the New York Post article here.

President Trump Endorses Mike Lawler (NY-17) for Re-Election

This week, President Donald Trump issued a strong endorsement of Congressman Mike Lawler’s re-election in New York’s 17th Congressional District.

The President knows that Congressman Lawler will deliver the MAGA agenda in Congress!

See Trump’s post on Truth Social here.

Thank you for reading this week.

We greatly appreciate your investment in our House GOP Battleground Fund. We are on the front lines of New York's grassroots and field efforts; this newsletter is our way to keep you posted on our efforts. We hope you continue to support this very critical effort.

Please contact our team at [email protected] if you have any questions or want to get more involved.

Sincerely,

Team Elise & the House GOP Battleground Fund Team 

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