Democrat members of the Senate Committee on Transportation have voted against a bill proposed by Senator Jack Martins aimed at repealing congestion pricing and auditing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The bill, identified as S.533, was brought to the committee’s agenda through a motion by Senator Martins but did not pass due to opposition from Senate Democrats.
The legislation sought to eliminate congestion pricing, described as a tax on drivers entering Manhattan, and mandated an audit of the MTA. Proponents argued that these measures would promote fiscal responsibility and transparency within an agency often criticized for mismanagement.
Senator Steve Rhoads commented on the decision: “This legislation offered a real, actionable path to expose where the billions sent to the MTA are going—and Senate Democrats killed it to protect the status quo. Every vote against this commonsense bill is a vote for deception, waste, and corruption. Congestion pricing is a shameless cash grab that punishes everyday New Yorkers—parents taking their kids to doctor appointments, families enjoying a day in the city, first responders, and union workers who keep the city running. The message from Albany Democrats is clear: they’d rather side with a mismanaged bureaucracy than fight for transparency, accountability, and relief for hardworking commuters.”
