ALBANY — Republicans in New York’s State Senate are sounding the alarm and demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul order an independent audit to ensure Minnesota-style fraud isn’t quietly draining New York taxpayers dry. And judging by the state’s recent track record, their concern isn’t exactly paranoia.
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R–Niagara) led the charge, urging Hochul to hire an outside professional services firm to conduct a full audit of state programs that funnel massive sums of taxpayer money—particularly those tied to childcare and social services.
“If Governor Hochul isn’t alarmed by what’s happening in Minnesota, New Yorkers will lose even more trust in how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent,” Ortt said in a statement. “The Governor must do her job and guarantee this isn’t happening here.”
The letter, signed by every member of the Senate GOP conference, points to Minnesota’s now-infamous COVID-era fraud scheme, where more than $250 million intended for childcare centers was allegedly stolen, with 78 individuals charged so far. Republicans warn New York could be next if basic oversight continues to be treated as optional.
“If nothing is amiss, there is no excuse for refusing a comprehensive, independent audit,” Ortt added. “Failing to act would be an extreme disservice to taxpayers.”
And this isn’t a hypothetical problem. GOP lawmakers listed several recent fraud cases already uncovered in New York, including:
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A $68 million fraud scheme tied to the state’s CDPAP homecare program uncovered by the DOJ
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A state comptroller audit finding over $500 million in Medicaid benefits paid to out-of-state residents
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A $13 million Medicaid fraud case revealed by the attorney general’s office
State Sen. Tom O’Mara (R–Chemung), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, said New Yorkers deserve certainty—not spin.
“Taxpayers deserve to know, without a shred of doubt, that taxpayer dollars are being allocated, distributed, and spent in the most responsible, effective, legal, and accountable ways,” O’Mara said.
The timing of the demand is no coincidence. Republicans note that Hochul—and New York City’s progressive mayor Zohran Mamdani—are pushing to expand publicly funded universal childcare programs, which would inject billions more taxpayer dollars into a system already riddled with fraud concerns.
“With reports that your administration may advance a proposal for universal pre-kindergarten in the upcoming legislative session, ensuring these programs are efficient, transparent, and free from fraud should be a shared priority for all New Yorkers,” the letter stated.
The governor’s office, unsurprisingly, was unimpressed.
Hochul spokesperson Kara Cumoletti dismissed the audit request as a “political stunt,” accusing Republicans of hypocrisy and defending the administration’s controversial Medicaid changes.
“This is a rich political stunt coming from the lawmaker who spent months fighting the Governor’s efforts to root out waste, fraud and abuse in the state’s Medicaid program,” Cumoletti said.
She also criticized the idea of hiring an outside auditor, suggesting it would duplicate the work of existing oversight agencies—an argument that rings hollow to taxpayers watching fraud cases pile up year after year.
Adding an extra layer of irony, critics claimed the GOP letter appeared to be written using artificial intelligence. A Senate spokesperson clarified that AI tools were used only for grammar—apparently the real scandal is spellcheck, not hundreds of millions of missing dollars.
At bottom, the issue is simple: Minnesota ignored warning signs and paid the price. New York Republicans say Hochul has a choice—act now, or explain later why taxpayers got fleeced on her watch.
Given the state’s history, many New Yorkers are already bracing for the second option.
