Auringer: First Ulster, Now Orange - The Hudson Valley Can't Afford the Ryan-Hochul Agenda

KINGSTON, N.Y., June 1, 2026 - Jackie Auringer, Republican candidate for Congress in New York's 18th Congressional District, today said the Ryan-Hochul agenda is making the Hudson Valley more expensive, pointing to a new income-based surcharge in Ulster County and Orange County-only economic development mandates passed in the state budget.

"First, it was Ulster County. Now it is Orange County," said Auringer. "Different counties, same agenda: more taxes, more mandates, more red tape, and higher costs."

In Ulster County, local Democratic leaders have pushed a new income-based surcharge that would take more money directly out of residents' paychecks. In Orange County, Albany Democrats imposed a county-only mandate: projects must now either pay prevailing wage or enter into a project labor agreement to access IDA benefits.

"Governor Hochul's Albany is singling out Orange County and putting it at a competitive disadvantage," Auringer said. "If a business can build or expand more easily in a neighboring county or state, many will. That means fewer projects, fewer jobs, and a smaller future tax base for Orange County."

Auringer said the Orange County-only mandate is not a theory; similar policies have already failed. According to the New York State Economic Development Council, when similar policies were tried in Yonkers and Ulster County, one went two years without an application and the other went a year and a half without a project.

Ryan's silence fits a broader pattern of opposing tax relief for Hudson Valley families. "Pat Ryan voted against increasing the SALT deduction, voted against ending taxes on tips, and voted against reducing taxes on Social Security benefits," Auringer said. "Now his political allies are pushing new taxes and mandates here at home. Whose side is Pat Ryan on?"

Auringer called on Ryan to say whether he supports or opposes the Ulster County surcharge and the Orange County-only economic development mandates. "Pat Ryan pretends he still lives in the district; maybe he could pretend to care whether families and businesses can afford to stay here," Auringer said.

"The people of the Hudson Valley are not an ATM for Pat Ryan's political allies," Auringer said. "Whether it is a new tax in Ulster County or new Orange County-only mandates, the answer should be the same: stop making life more expensive."