Capital District Times

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has voiced strong criticism against Governor Kathy Hochul's handling of correctional officer terminations and the subsequent release of inmates. In her latest statement, Stefanik directly blamed Governor Hochul for worsening staffing shortages in upstate prisons. "Far Left Democrat Kathy Hochul truly is the worst Governor in America. Her wrongful termination of over 2,000 hardworking correctional officers has exacerbated the staffing shortages that our Upstate prisons were already facing," Stefanik stated. She also warned that these actions have "resulted in the early release of dangerous violent criminals into our communities."

Stefanik further argued that Hochul's policies pose significant risks to communities in Upstate New York and the North Country. She called for the repeal of Hochul’s Halt Act and urged the immediate rehiring of the correctional officers. The Congresswoman's statements mark a continuation of her critique of Hochul since strikes and terminations concerning working conditions were initiated.

The Congresswoman’s disagreements with Governor Hochul's policies are not new. In October 2024, Stefanik expressed her concerns over the closure of the Great Meadows Correctional Facility. Prior to that, in August 2024, she led a bipartisan rally in Fort Ann to prevent the closure after advocating for months. She has also been active since December 2021 when she championed a rally aimed at saving prisons in the North Country from closures announced by Hochul, including Ogdensburg Correctional Facility and Moriah Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility.