First-term Republican Representative Mike Lawler has launched a new multi-million dollar ad campaign, taking credit for halting Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to implement a $15 congestion toll for entry into Midtown Manhattan. The 30-second spot features Lawler highlighting his efforts to work with both Democrats and Republicans in order to halt the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) congestion tax.
The campaign ad then displays footage of Lawler, alongside New Jersey Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer, holding a joint press conference to express their opposition towards congestion pricing. Prior to Governor Hochul’s abrupt indefinite “pause” on the program in June, Republicans, including Lawler, planned to use congestion pricing as an issue against Democratic opponents during their campaigns.
Lawler faces a challenging re-election bid against former Democratic Representative Mondaire Jones in the lower Hudson Valley’s 17th District, which encompasses Rockland County and parts of Westchester and Putnam. Initially an ardent supporter of congestion pricing to fund the MTA’s $15 billion capital program, Governor Hochul surprisingly put a halt on the plan in June, leading to widespread speculation that she may have blocked the toll to assist Democrats in reclaiming House seats. However, Hochul denied these claims, stating that she reversed her stance due to the toll being too burdensome for New Yorkers post-pandemic.
In addition to his campaign against congestion pricing, Lawler also advocates for restoring the full federal deduction on state and local taxes. The Lawler campaign announced that this ad is just the beginning of a $5 million advertising blitz spanning broadcast and cable TV as well as other digital platforms. Chris Russell, spokesman for Lawler for Congress, said in a statement, “Congressman Mike Lawler is getting things done in DC — from stopping congestion pricing to fighting to lift the cap on SALT to returning tens of millions of federal dollars to the Hudson Valley, he’s been the bipartisan fighter NY-17 elected him to be.
On the other hand, Jones campaign spokeswoman Shannon Geison dismissed Lawler’s claims as fabricated, stating that no one would believe he played a role in Governor Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing. Similarly, she pointed out that the Republican majority in Congress has not been beneficial for Lower Hudson Valley families, and criticized Lawler for failing to get his own party to allow a vote on restoring the State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT.
As for Jones’ stance on congestion pricing, it appears to have changed over time. When running for Congress in 2022, he supported congestion pricing as a necessary measure for the lower Hudson Valley. However, after deciding to run for his former seat in the more car-reliant Hudson Valley, Jones shifted his position last year, stating that he does not support congestion pricing for residents of the area.
