NYC Mayor's 'Tax the Rich' Plan Faces Pushback from State Lawmakers

Zohran Mamdani grilled over funding proposals for his agenda in Albany

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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New York City's new democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani was questioned by state lawmakers in Albany this week over his plans to fund his agenda by raising taxes on the wealthy. Mamdani is proposing a 2% increase in personal income taxes on the top 1% of NYC residents, but lawmakers expressed concerns about the impact on the rest of the state.

Why it matters

Mamdani's 'tax the rich' agenda was a key part of his campaign platform, but implementing such proposals in reality has proven challenging. The pushback from state lawmakers highlights the political obstacles he faces in trying to enact his progressive policy goals.

The details

Mamdani argued that someone making $1 million could afford an additional $20,000 in taxes, and that federal tax cuts would offset the increase. However, lawmakers questioned the broader impact on the state, with some arguing that if NYC received more money, other cities would receive less. There were also questions about Mamdani's handling of issues like antisemitism in the city.

  • Mamdani testified before state lawmakers in Albany on February 12, 2026.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The new democratic socialist mayor of New York City who is proposing to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund his agenda.

John Liu

Democratic state senator and chairman of the New York City Education Committee, who told Mamdani that the 'honeymoon is over' and he needs to provide details on his plans.

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What they’re saying

“'Once the honeymoon is over, which I think you've just felt, you may well prefer three minutes to 10. Speaking of which, you know, it's mid-February, so I will respectfully say that the time for blaming past Mayors and Governors is passed. We need to hear the details of your plan. And it's good to hear your revenue proposals.'”

— John Liu, State Senator, Chairman of New York City Education Committee (WRGB News)

What’s next

The state lawmakers will continue to scrutinize Mamdani's proposals, and he will need to provide more detailed plans to address their concerns about the impact on the rest of the state.

The takeaway

Mamdani's ambitious 'tax the rich' agenda is facing significant political headwinds, as state lawmakers push back on his plans and demand more specifics. This highlights the challenges of implementing progressive policies, even in a Democratic-controlled city and state.