Politics & Government
Hochul: 'Captive' Taxpayers Are Escaping NY For Low-Tax States Like New Hampshire
NY's Democratic governor's admission that taxpayers were viewed as "captives" and comments about millionaires sparked social media reaction.
New York’s Democratic governor says her state has been able to charge high taxes in the past because of “captive” taxpayers, but those days are over due to “remote work” and competition from low-tax states.
Now, Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte says New Hampshire is happy to be providing that competition.
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In a classic example of a Kinsley Gaffe (“a politician inadvertently telling the truth”), Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) told Nick Reisman at the Politico New York Agenda summit that, while “I philosophically don’t have a problem” with raising taxes, she has to take political realities into account.
“I have to look at the fact that we are in competition with other states who have less of a tax burden on their corporations and their individuals.”
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“The fact is that I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state,” Hochul added.
She praised “some patriotic millionaires who’ve stepped up and cut me checks,” but she said if they really want to help, “maybe the first step should be go down to Palm Beach and see who you can bring back home, because our tax base has been eroded.”
Hochul blamed “remote work” for setting workers and businesses free from the reach of the Empire State’s tax collectors.
“Remote work changed everything. There were people who could only work in an office in Manhattan and work in New York State, and they were captives to our state. They were going to stay.
“We saw that’s no longer the case.”
The question was inspired by New York City Mayor Zorhan Mamdani’s request that the state authorize tax hikes on the city’s taxpayers. Ironically, it was Mamdani’s election that got Ayotte directly engaged in recruiting New York businesses to the Granite State.
The day after the socialist politician’s election victory last November, Ayotte rolled mobile billboards through Manhattan streets, urging successful business owners to escape from New York.
One billboard read, “NYC Business Owners: Mamdani got you down? Come on up to New Hampshire for no Communism, less red tape, and less taxes!”
“Safe. Prosperous. Free. What New York used to be,” read another.
Hochul’s admission that elected officials viewed taxpayers as “captives” and her call for millionaires to come to the rescue went viral on Wednesday, sparking a social media reaction.
“The unbelievable arrogance and hypocrisy of begging millionaires to return to New York while the new mayor simultaneously says he despises millionaires and supports communism,” posted Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports. “I wonder why people are flocking to Florida?”
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro added, “Kathy Hochul begs the wealthy whom she’s already chased away to come back and fund her socialist fever dreams: ‘Cut me the checks.'”
Ayotte responded to her New York counterpart’s comments by reiterating her original message.
“Business and people are fleeing Massachusetts and New York for lower taxes and a better quality of life in New Hampshire. We’re glad to welcome them with open arms!”
This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.
