Governor Kathy Hochul’s chaotic leadership is once again under fire — this time for allegedly using her veto pen to settle political scores rather than govern responsibly. The embattled New York Democrat has faced sharp criticism from both sides of the aisle after vetoing a wave of bills, including five from state Senator James Skoufis (D), leaving 72 pieces of legislation pending as of Friday.
According to reports, even Democrats are fed up with Hochul’s petty and vindictive behavior. An anonymous insider in her administration admitted that political grudges may be influencing her decisions, hinting that lawmakers seen as disloyal or critical — like Skoufis — are being punished. “If I were an advocate or industry group, I would probably be thinking about a different sponsor for my bill next year,” the source told reporters.
Hochul’s office tried to dismiss the backlash, with her spokesperson Kara Cumoletti insisting, “The governor evaluates all legislation on its merits.” But few are buying it. Watchdogs and lawmakers alike have condemned the governor’s apparent abuse of power.
NYPIRG’s Blair Horner blasted Hochul’s tactics, saying, “New Yorkers should expect that approval and veto decisions are made purely on the merits of the bills that come to the governor’s desk.” Even Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy sounded uneasy, admitting, “I would hope decisions are based on policy differences, not personal disagreements.”
Senator Skoufis himself didn’t hold back. Calling out the governor’s inflated ego, he mocked, “Everyone — literally everyone — laughs behind her back over the contrived ‘tough guy’ persona she desperately tries to project. God bless the governor’s petty little heart.”
Conservatives, meanwhile, are reveling in the intra-party drama. Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, never one to mince words, delivered a blistering rebuke. “Kathy Hochul is the Worst Governor in America, and everyone — even Democrats — know it’s true,” Stefanik wrote on social media. “Want to know what a joke @KathyHochul is to elected leaders in her own Democrat Party? Here is what a Democrat Senator says about Kathy 👇,” she added, linking to Skoufis’s quote.
Good-government advocates have also taken aim at Hochul’s hypocrisy. Reinvent Albany pointed out the absurdity of her veto message for a transparency bill, noting, “The governor says agencies can’t implement it because they don’t have the needed funding. Yet, the governor controls that agency funding.”
This veto scandal is just the latest embarrassment for Hochul’s faltering administration. Her mismanagement of New York’s crime-ridden subway system has already drawn national criticism. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently threatened to pull federal funding unless Hochul gets serious about cleaning up the dangerous, filthy transit network.
“We give millions of dollars a year to the New York subway,” Duffy said. “If people can’t go to the subway and not be afraid of being stabbed or thrown in front of tracks, we’re going to pull your money.”
Rather than take responsibility, Hochul lashed out, firing back with her usual defensiveness. “Tell Sean Duffy, we’ve got this. We’ll take care of what’s happening underground. You take care of what’s happening in the skies,” she snapped.
But New Yorkers aren’t convinced. Between rampant crime, a crumbling transit system, and a governor seemingly obsessed with petty political revenge, the Empire State is spiraling — and Kathy Hochul’s weak, ego-driven leadership is to blame.
