Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C–Black River) today criticized Gov. Hochul’s recently announced “inflation refund checks,” calling them a shallow political stunt that fails to address the crushing costs families in the North Country and Mohawk Valley face every day.

“After years of runaway spending in Albany, the governor now wants New Yorkers to believe that a one-time check of a couple of hundred dollars is going to solve their problems,” said Blankenbush. “These so-called inflation checks are nothing more than election-year gimmicks designed to distract people from the fact that Albany’s policies are making life more expensive, not less.”

The state recently announced it is mailing inflation refund checks of up to $400 to certain households, funded by surplus sales tax revenue. Blankenbush noted that while families are being squeezed by skyrocketing property taxes, energy costs and grocery bills, Albany leaders are patting themselves on the back for handing out a check just in time for holiday headlines.

“Families in my district don’t want one-time handouts; they want permanent tax relief, a more affordable energy policy and safer communities,” Blankenbush added. “Instead of returning crumbs to taxpayers, we should be cutting income taxes, eliminating costly mandates on small businesses and farmers and making New York competitive again.”

Blankenbush vowed to continue fighting for long-term solutions that put money back into the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers, including restoring affordability, investing in infrastructure and rejecting policies that drive up costs for families and seniors.