We at Catholic Charities have been advocating for the JustPay Campaign these past few months. We have learned that the final State budget could be released any day now — the issue of supporting a JustPay is now in the hands of Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

As they negotiate the final budget behind closed doors, let’s make sure we let them know that we remain attentive to this issue. From now until the final budget is released, email Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Heastie to demand a 4% investment for all human services programs in the final budget.

The Governor's budget proposal includes a 1.7% investment in human services, which is not nearly enough for wages to keep up with the current inflation rate of 2.7%. Meanwhile, the Legislature’s budget proposal went beyond our 2.7% ask and included a 4% investment — a testament to the power of the emails we’ve been sending them. Now we want to make sure that Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins are holding the line and pushing the Governor to include a 4% investment for all human services programs in the budget, while also directly pressuring the Governor herself to align with this 4% commitment.

Your emails have been effective in helping us promote this campaign. This is our final chance to push for a 4% investment in the State budget. Please send an email today to make sure that the Legislature holds the line for a 4% investment for ALL human services programs in the final budget!