Albany Republicans' $20B shame: spending madness is their fault, too

Albany Republicans face a long hike back to political relevance. Hans Pennink

Albany Republicans, the minority in the state Senate and Assembly for the last seven years, face a long hike back to political relevance .

They can start by answering the $20 billion question.

That’s the difference between what New York state expects to spend this fiscal year — $148 billion, excluding federal aid and borrowing — and what it would be spending if the last budget enacted with GOP support, in 2018, had kept growing only at the rate of inflation.

That amount is $128 billion.

Republicans correctly note state spending is higher than ever — and, given Albany’s reliance on a small subset of high earners, rising unsustainably .

But they can’t put the blame on the Democrats alone.

The $20 bi