According to a recent Siena poll, there is bipartisan support from New Yorkers to both adjust New York’s bail law and ramp up taxes on those earning more than $5 million a year. Both of these proposals are being weighed in the state legislature as part of a $227 billion budget that is due to pass by Saturday.
Both issues see Governor Kathy Hochul and her fellow Democrats divided. Hochul’s proposal to end the “least restrictive” standard for judges when determining bail for serious criminal charges has no support from her party. Meanwhile, Democrats’ ambitions to increase income tax on higher earners–a .5% hike for both $5 million and $25 million earners–has been rebuffed by the Governor.
Hochul has made clear she is willing to plow through the April 1 deadline in order to achieve her preferred budget.
The poll found New York voters by a margin of 72% to 20% supportive of giving judges more discretion when determining whether bail should be set. The 2019 bail law in question received increased attention in 2022 due to a rise in crime across the state; the poll found that 92% of voters believe crime is a serious problem in New York.
On the tax front, independents, Democrats, and Republicans back the higher rates by 60%+ margins. Supporters of higher taxes on rich New Yorkers say there is an urgent need to generate revenue to combat a potential recession. Detractors say that it would only lead to a flight of wealthy residents to other states.
The poll also detected a pessimistic mood among New Yorkers. Only 39% of voters believe New York is on the right path; 49% believe otherwise. For the country, those numbers are 33% and 57% respectively.
The poll of 802 registered voters has a margin of error of 4.6 percentage points and was conducted from March 19-22.
