Fighting for hardworking New Yorkers

A Mike Johnson Speakership is Bad for Working New Yorkers
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

A Mike Johnson Speakership is Bad for Working New Yorkers

NEW YORK — After three weeks of failed attempts to elect a Speaker, House Republicans have landed on far-right Representative Mike Johnson to take up the gavel. New York Reps. Anthony D’Esposito, Marc Molinaro, and Brandon Williams all voted for the far-right Republican, who has spent years working against the interests of working people.

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ICYMI: IRS to Launch Free Tax Filing Pilot Program in New York Thanks to Inflation Reduction Act
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

ICYMI: IRS to Launch Free Tax Filing Pilot Program in New York Thanks to Inflation Reduction Act

NEW YORK — Last week, the IRS announced that it is launching a free tax filing pilot program in 13 states next year, including New York. The program will serve as a free alternative to paid services offered by companies like Intuit TurboTax and H&R Block, making it easier and cheaper for working families to file their taxes. It’s part of a larger effort to modernize and improve the agency’s operations, made possible by funding received from last year’s Inflation Reduction Act.

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Congressman Brandon Williams Votes for Far-Right Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

Congressman Brandon Williams Votes for Far-Right Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker

NEW YORK — Congressman Brandon Williams has just voted to elect Representative Jim Jordan to be the next Speaker of the House. While Jordan failed to get enough votes to become Speaker, today’s vote proves that Rep. Williams is not the independent “political outsider” he claims to be.

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Congressman Molinaro Announces Support for Far-Right Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

Congressman Molinaro Announces Support for Far-Right Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker

NEW YORK — Congressman Marc Molinaro told reporters today that he supports far-right Representative Jim Jordan in the race to elect a new Speaker of the House. Rep. Jordan is a founding member and the current Vice Chair of the House Freedom Caucus, infamous for his role in stirring up far-right “culture wars” and performative political stunts.

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PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Marc Molinaro’s Constituents Have a Clear Demand: HANDS OFF Our Social Security!
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Marc Molinaro’s Constituents Have a Clear Demand: HANDS OFF Our Social Security!

BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK — Today, Empire State Voices and Social Security Works held a press conference outside Marc Molinaro’s Binghamton office, demanding that he stop voting to cut access to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. They were joined by a coalition of local advocacy groups, labor unions, and residents of NY-19, including Citizen Action of New York, Indivisible Binghamton, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), and New York State Alliance for Retired Americans (NYSARA).

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NY Republicans Just Voted in Favor of SEVERE Cuts That Would Hurt New Yorkers
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

NY Republicans Just Voted in Favor of SEVERE Cuts That Would Hurt New Yorkers

NEW YORK — Just now, New York GOP Members voted in favor of a continuing resolution that would have resulted in eliminating healthcare services for rural communities, increasing the costs of food, and decimating the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Maria Martinez, Executive Director of Empire State Voices, released the following statement:

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Empire State Voices and Economic Security Project Action to Launch Ad Campaign Holding Rep. Williams Accountable for His Role in the Government Shutdown
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

Empire State Voices and Economic Security Project Action to Launch Ad Campaign Holding Rep. Williams Accountable for His Role in the Government Shutdown

NEW YORK — In the coming days, Empire State Voices and Economic Security Project Action will launch an effort to hold Congressman Brandon Williams accountable for his role in forcing the upcoming unnecessary government shutdown. The effort will begin with a radio ad entitled “Hardworking,” which will play in the Syracuse and Utica areas for three weeks and be accompanied by additional media and organizing accountability actions.

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Rep. Molinaro Deflects and Distracts When Pressed on Impending Government Shutdown
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

Rep. Molinaro Deflects and Distracts When Pressed on Impending Government Shutdown

NEW YORK — Representative Marc Molinaro spoke to Yahoo Finance this afternoon about ongoing Republican demands over appropriations bills and the impending shutdown. When pressed on the complicity of GOP members in the House who have failed to come to an agreement on funding legislation, Rep. Molinaro deflected, attributing the current standstill to “deeply-held beliefs within the House Republican majority.”

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As Government Shutdown Looms, New York’s GOP Freshmen Side with Freedom Caucus over Constituents
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

As Government Shutdown Looms, New York’s GOP Freshmen Side with Freedom Caucus over Constituents

NEW YORK — New York Representatives Anthony D’Esposito, Marc Molinaro, and Brandon Williams returned to Washington today, where they are set to continue their fight to slash funding for programs like SNAP, Medicare, and Medicaid. The three freshman members have joined the most far-right members of their party in demanding cuts to nearly every federal program, threatening to shut down the government this weekend unless they get what they want.

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Congressman D’Esposito Tries to Run Away From His Record
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

Congressman D’Esposito Tries to Run Away From His Record

NEW YORK — Yesterday, Rep. Anthony D’Esposito responded to an ad from Empire State Voices calling him out for opposing legislation to lower insulin costs. While D’Esposito insists that he has never voted on legislation to increase insulin prices, he intentionally left out that he opposed last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, which lowers the cost of insulin for 1.5 million Americans and gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices.

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NEW: Empire State Voices Launches First Ad Holding Rep. Anthony D’Esposito Accountable for Opposing Lowering the Cost of Insulin
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

NEW: Empire State Voices Launches First Ad Holding Rep. Anthony D’Esposito Accountable for Opposing Lowering the Cost of Insulin

NEW YORK — Today, Empire State Voices launched a seven-figured paid media effort to educate constituents in New York’s 4th Congressional District on Congressman Anthony D’Esposito’s record. The campaign will feature streaming, digital, and mail communications, holding Rep. D’Esposito accountable for fighting against the interests of his own constituents.

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ICYMI: IRS Begins Crackdown on Wealthy Tax Dodgers Despite House Republicans’ Best Efforts
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

ICYMI: IRS Begins Crackdown on Wealthy Tax Dodgers Despite House Republicans’ Best Efforts

NEW YORK — The IRS recently announced that it is beginning a crackdown on a number of wealthy tax cheats, pursuing 1,600 millionaires and 75 large corporations that have avoided paying hundreds of millions of dollars. This renewed effort is thanks to last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, which provided the agency with $80 billion to hire additional staff and develop the technology needed to go after high-dollar tax dodgers.

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Child Poverty Skyrockets, Congressional Republicans Are to Blame
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

Child Poverty Skyrockets, Congressional Republicans Are to Blame

NEW YORK — On Tuesday, the U.S. Census Bureau released its report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage for 2022. Among its findings, the Census Bureau reports that the number of children living in poverty in the United States more than doubled, from a record low of 5.2 percent in 2021 to 12.4 percent in 2022.

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Shutdown Watch: All Eyes on New York House Republicans as GOP Threatens Government Shutdown
Empire State Voices Empire State Voices

Shutdown Watch: All Eyes on New York House Republicans as GOP Threatens Government Shutdown

NEW YORK — In just under three weeks, the U.S. government is set to run out of funding and be forced to shut down, shuttering or heavily impacting federal programs and threatening the livelihoods of millions of workers. Congress has until midnight on Saturday, September 30, to pass legislation to fund the government, most likely by passing a short-term continuing resolution to extend current funding levels until full appropriations bills can be negotiated.

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