New Yorkers get slammed yet again by a state budget that LITERALLY robs them blind

New Yorkers are getting robbed blind — because state politicians are doing deals with taxpayers’ money in the dark. On Monday Gov.Kathy Hochul announced that she and Albany’s top two legislative leaders had agreed on how much to tax New Yorkers and how much the state will spend this fiscal year, which started April 1.From the smattering of information available — days later, the details have still not been publicly released — the deal will necessitate additional tax hikes months from now that could trigger an economic death spiral for the state and its largest city.Here’s the kicker: This is a back-room deal, worked out in secrecy by an all-Democrat troika: Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. None of the other 211 members of the legislature was permitted to listen in, let alone participate.The press? Locked out, perched uncomfortably on the state Capitol’s marble stairs.Without the benefit of open debate, New Yorkers are paying through the nose: Albany will spend a staggering $254 billion in the coming year.That’s more than it costs to run Florida and Texas combined, even though New York has 33 million fewer people to serve.This is the way New York has managed its spending for decades.

I witnessed it myself as lieutenant governor 30 years ago.  Then as now, it prevented our lawmakers from doing the right thing.

They’re still getting sidelined today.Spending in the budget is “reckless.It’s out of control,” Republican State Sen.

Tom O’Mara wrote last month — but his voice isn’t heard.In fact, no Republican was even allowed in the room.At some point in the coming days, nine or more bills will be hurriedly printed and put on each lawmaker’s desk, along with a “message of necessity” from Hochul requiring it to be voted on within hours, even in the middle of the night. Unreal.Lawmakers, no more than party puppets, will vote on the bills with no debate. This is not representa...