Press Releases

Pearl River, NY - 1/5/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler released the following statement after the disastrous congestion pricing cash grab began at midnight.

“Kathy Hochul and her pal John Lieber at the MTA have decided that rather than fixing the unbelievable waste, fraud, and abuse at the MTA, they’re going to tax the hell out of working New Yorkers instead,” said Congressman Mike Lawler.“Congestion pricing is a corrupt cash grab, and the fact that Governor Hochul is literally celebrating it shows what little regard she has for hard-working New Yorkers already struggling to make ends meet.”

“To see John Lieber celebrating the beginning of this cash grab with a sign unveiling and pomp and circumstance shows this whole thing is a total sham,” continued Congressman Lawler. “To see the architect of this absurd program and the manager of the MTA’s failures celebrating this new tax on New Yorkers is appalling.”

“It is the height of arrogance to ignore the bloat and corruption within the MTA and, by choice, move forward with punishing cops, nurses, firefighters, teachers, small business owners, and any New Yorker who’d prefer to drive in the safety of their car to New York City,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “Kathy Hochul has shown she’s learned nothing since her near-loss in 2022 or the gains made in New York by President Donald Trump in 2024, and that’s exactly why she’ll lose her job in November of 2026.”

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.