March 13, 2026 – NY Gov. Kathy Hochul voices concern over wealthy NY’ers leaving the state; appeals for their return

In Email/Dossier/Govt Corruption Investigations, Featured Timeline Entries by Katie Weddington

Kathy Hochul makes public remarks at a Politico New York Agenda Summit in Albany, and acknowledges the state’s reliance on high-net-worth residents for tax revenue and urged them to return after many had left for lower-tax states like Florida.

In response to pressures from figures like NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to raise taxes on the wealthy, Hochul highlighted the erosion of the tax base due to out-migration of affluent residents and businesses.

Key quotes from her remarks,: “I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state.”

“There are some patriotic millionaires who want to step up. OK, cut me the checks.”

“If you want to be supportive, the first step would be, OK, go down to Palm Beach and see who you bring back home because our tax base has become eroded.”

In this segment from The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, the hosts discuss and react to New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent public statements urging wealthy residents—particularly millionaires who have left the state to return to New York. They frame her comments as a desperate plea for high-income earners to come back and essentially subsidize the state’s expansive welfare programs and budget through their tax contributions.

The discussion highlights ongoing concerns about New York’s population and tax-base exodus in recent years, with many affluent individuals and businesses relocating to lower-tax states like Florida and Texas. Travis and Sexton criticize Hochul’s approach as tone-deaf, arguing it exposes the unsustainable nature of New York’s high-tax, high-spending policies that rely heavily on wealthy residents to fund social services and government programs.