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Rensselaer Legislature passes resolution urging governor to withhold $15 million allocation for legal expenses; vote splits 11–6
Summary
The legislature adopted a resolution urging Governor Kathy Hochul to reserve a decision to allocate $15 million in taxpayer funds for legal expenses of individuals described in the resolution; the measure passed 11–6 after at least one legislator voiced a constitutional concern.
The Rensselaer County Legislature voted 11–6 to approve a resolution urging Governor Kathy Hochul to reserve her decision to allocate $15 million in taxpayer funds to legal expenses for noncitizens, a measure that drew expressed opposition from at least one legislator on constitutional grounds.
Resolution PU 2 94 25, introduced by a coalition of legislators listed in the record, reads in the transcript as “urging governor Kathy Hochul to reserve her decision to allocate $15,000,000 in taxpayer funds to legal expenses of individuals in The United States illegally.” The roll call recorded 11 ayes and 6 nos; the chair declared the motion carried.
Legislator Grimm spoke against the resolution on grounds raised during a previous meeting’s public testimony, referencing the Fifth Amendment and a concern for due process protections. In the record Grimm said: “...they cited, in the words of Judge Scalia, that in the Fifth Amendment, it protects and honors due process for every person. And, I think with that, I cannot vote for this particular resolution tonight.” Grimm said earlier public testimony by two speakers, referred to as Claudia and Susan, had emphasized due process.
Why it matters: The resolution expresses a county-level political stance on state executive decisions concerning funding for legal services. It does not bind state action or appropriate county funds, but a divided vote indicates partisan or procedural disagreement among county legislators.
The motion was introduced by legislators Hoffman, Leverage, Bailey, Harrington, Cassell, Choquette, Fiaco, Jenren, Grant, Maloney, Pateri, Rogers and Wysocki as recorded in the meeting minutes. The resolution passed despite recorded objections from six legislators.
The transcript does not record the names of all legislators who voted yes or no; the official roll call in the minutes should be consulted for a full vote-by-vote record.
