Capital District Times

Paul Tonko, a member of the U.S. Congress representing New York's 20th district, recently voiced his opposition to Republican policies through a series of social media posts. Tonko, who has been serving in Congress since 2009 and previously served in the New York State Assembly, highlighted concerns over financial regulations and budgetary allocations that he claims prioritize the wealthy at the expense of working families.

On April 9, 2025, Tonko commented on the Republican stance against a widely supported regulation on bank overdraft fees. He stated, "Republicans are once again going against what the majority of voters want – 84% support limiting the amount banks can charge in overdraft fees to what it actually costs them. Their disdain for America’s working class is clear as they push to overturn this commonsense rule."

Later that day, Tonko detailed his criticisms of the Republican budget proposal. He highlighted substantial reductions in social safety nets, stating, "The Republican budget: guts Medicaid by $880 billion axes SNAP & food aid by $230 billion gifts trillions in tax breaks to the wealthiest 1 percent." He underscored the Democratic Party's commitment to supporting "working families—not the ultra-rich."

The following day, April 10, 2025, Tonko reiterated his disapproval of the budget cuts in a separate post. He emphasized the historical scale of the reductions, "The Republican budget imposes the largest cuts to Medicaid and food aid in U.S. history. What do these cuts pay for? Trillions in tax breaks to the wealthiest corporations and billionaire donors. I voted no."

Paul Tonko, born in Amsterdam, New York, in 1949, graduated from Clarkson University with a BS in 1971 and has dedicated his career to public service, living in his hometown to this day.