As New York Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined her legislative priorities for 2024 in her State of the State address on Tuesday, Republican leaders criticized her for what she did not discuss and framed some of her ideas as solutions to problems self-inflicted by years of Democratic control in Albany.

“With a $4 billion budget gap, there was no commitment to keep state spending in check. Illegal migrants are crossing the southern border in droves, but New York has yet to figure out how to properly handle the ongoing influx,” state Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said in a statement. “Despite New York owning the nation’s worst outmigration numbers, there is no concrete plan to ease financial pressures on families and businesses. And after years of pro-criminal policies that undermine public safety, there is still no interest in increasing accountability or fixing glaring problems in the state’s criminal justice center.”

Barclay said he is in favor of improving maternal and infant health, improving performance from New York schools, and other issues Hochul laid out, but said a lot of the address was light on substance.

“I’m looking forward to the Executive Budget address next week when hopefully she’ll present a detailed, comprehensive plan that addresses the real issues New Yorkers are dealing with,” Barclay said.

Republicans have been shut of power in the state Senate since 2019, and out of the Assembly and governorship for much longer. They have spent the last few years criticizing Democratic policies on public safety and criminal justice reform, perhaps most often on changes to the state’s bail laws.

“The rising crime and cost of living highlighted by the Governor are the direct result of bad policies enacted by New York Democrats,” state Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt said in a statement. “Governor Hochul proposed a task force to stop the shoplifters emboldened by a pro-criminal legislature, asked for taxpayer funding to address a migrant crisis Democrats invited to New York, and gave lip-service to the rising cost of living created by Albany's extreme energy agenda, high taxes, and bad housing policy.

"As more residents continue to flee the state for places that offer affordability, security, and opportunity, we need real solutions and the political will to address the challenges we face, not band-aids to bad policies that have decreased the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Our conference stands ready to work toward a greater New York for all.”