Senate Republicans call on Hochul to rescind executive order No. 47.3

Order bars 2,000 corrections officers from working for state agencies and local government

Guest Editorial Submitted by the Office of New York State Sen. Rob Ortt

Members of the Senate Republican Conference penned a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul calling for her to rescind Executive Order No. 47.3. Enacted in response to her failure to properly address strikes at correctional facilities statewide, the order bars 2,000 terminated state corrections officers from working for the state of New York or local agencies.

“(This order) is punitive and will only have a ripple effect, impacting not only the 2,000 correction officers but also the members of the National Guard that must continue to serve in our prisons,” the letter reads.

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt said, “Whether it be the thousands of corrections officers out of work without health insurance or the brave men and women of the National Guard being sent to hold our prisons together– the whole situation has been seriously mishandled since the start. While the state is pandering to laid-off federal workers and sticking it to the current administration, they are turning their backs on the brave public servants who have dedicated themselves to protecting their communities and our state.”

Sen. Jake Ashby, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, said, "This governor has sealed criminal records for the express purpose of helping felons find jobs, but she doesn't believe in any second chances for correction officers who were enduring record violence and mandatory 24-hour shifts. It's insulting. The sooner our correctional facilities reach safe staffing levels, the sooner we can get our National Guard troops out of a dangerous mission they were never properly trained for in the first place.”

Sen. Rob Rolison, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, said, “As a former mayor and local government official, barring these individuals from working for local governments is wrong and unfair. It's unfair to these officers, their families and local governments that are struggling to find interested and qualified employees – especially in the field of corrections.”

Sen. Dan Stec said, “The governor is willing to expunge criminal records of convicted felons seeking employment and, in the same breath, ban 2,000 correction officers from government service. These men and women are being punished over concerns for their safety inside correctional facilities, which Albany Democrats have allowed to deteriorate through policies like HALT. Her executive order is cruel and vindictive and needs to be ended. I’m proud to join my Senate Republican colleagues in calling on Gov. Hochul to rescind it.”

Sen. Mark Walczyk said, “Family members of our National Guard are expressing deep concern that their loved ones are being deployed in harm's way without adequate resources and support. Selfish political pride is the reason our governor hasn't requested federal activation. And that failure – to mobilize the Guard under Title 10 federal orders – deprives our warriors of the benefits and protections that active military members receive.”