Whose pocket are you in? Hochul, NY lawmakers bicker amid battle over auto insurance

Key Points:

• New York’s $263 billion state budget talks have stalled amid a public dispute between Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislators, with accusations that both sides are influenced by special interests like Uber and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.
• Hochul supports a proposal to crack down on auto insurance fraud by limiting court payouts for those mostly responsible for crashes and capping compensation for serious injuries, claiming it will reduce insurance rates.
• Legislators, backed by trial lawyers who have heavily funded their campaigns, question whether Hochul’s plan will actually lower rates and are concerned about preserving victims’ rights.
• Uber has invested over $9 million promoting Hochul’s plan through ads and rallies, while trial lawyers spend hundreds of thousands monthly on lobbying and campaign contributions to oppose it.
• The conflict has become personal and public, with Hochul accusing lawmakers of being beholden to trial lawyers, and trial lawyer leaders accusing the governor of siding with Uber and insurance companies at the expense of injured New Yorkers.