New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been mocked for claiming she can’t afford eggs this Easter despite raking in almost $1.5 million in household earnings last year.
Hochul made the remark in an interview with Spectrum’s ‘Inside City Hall’ on Monday, where she slammed President Trump for soaring prices following his tariff plan chaos.
Discussing her Easter plans, Hochul said: ‘Heaven help anybody who’s going to use real eggs on Easter.
‘I have an Easter egg roll at the Governor’s Residence, inviting kids from the neighborhood over. I can’t afford them.’
Hochul was ridiculed for the comment as her recently released tax returns showed that she and her husband, attorney William Hochul Jr., earned almost $1.5 million last year combined.
The couple reported a joint income of $1,479,244, a reduction from their $1.9 million earnings the year before, according to Spectrum.
William Hochul works as counsel for major law firm Davis Polk, where his tax returns showed that he made just shy of a million dollars. He also reported earnings of $96,733 in deferred payments from his previous employer, hospitality company Delaware North.
Before entering private practice, William served as United States Attorney for the Western District of New York from 2010 to 2016, and he also made $47,733 last year in pension from that role – offset by his wife’s $250,000 government salary.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been mocked for claiming she can’t afford eggs this Easter despite taking home almost $1.5 million in household earnings with her husband, attorney William Hochul Jr. (pictured together at Hochul’s 2021 swearing in)
Hochul was criticized for her remarks about high prices, particularly as they came shortly after she released her tax returns while she enjoys perks such as the New York Governor’s Mansion in Albany (pictured)
While said somewhat sarcastically, Hochul’s remarks on not being able to afford eggs were roundly mocked by New York legislators this week, who had returned to Albany to finalize state budget negotiations.
North Country Assemblyman Chris Tague, a Republican, told the New York Post that Hochul ‘should be ashamed of herself’ for her comments.
‘The governor might find it amusing to make a statement like that or think she’s some sort of comedian, but for millions of New Yorkers, not being able to afford eggs or even the basic necessities is no joke.’
Hochul was criticized on both sides of the aisle as fellow Democrats slammed her for joking about struggling financially while her constituents suffer under soaring cost of living.
‘She should be more concerned about whether everyday folks can afford eggs and what is she going to do about it,’ Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, a Democrat, said.
State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a Democrat representing the Bronx, branded the governor’s comments ‘boneheaded.’
‘Every single thing that happens, if people can’t afford to eat, if people can afford their rent, if people are getting hurt as consumers, if they’re losing their workers,’ he said.
‘All of it. The governor owns it. Every single goddamn thing.’
Hochul’s husband William (seen together in 2022 with then-President Joe Biden) previously served as United States Attorney for the Western District of New York from 2010 to 2016, and he also made $47,733 last year in pension from that role – offset by his wife’s $250,000 government salary
William Hochul Jr. earned the lion’s share of the couple’s earnings last year as counsel for major law firm Davis Polk, where his tax returns showed that he made just shy of a million dollars
Hochul’s tax filings showed she and her husband make a comfortable income even without their salaries, as they took home an extra $114,000 from dividends and investment income, their returns showed.
They also reported charitable donations of $87,883, and paid combined state and federal taxes of $535,609.
Hochul’s high earnings do not factor in the perks of being one of the most powerful lawmakers in the nation, including the sprawling Governor’s mansion.
The couple’s Albany mansion was a dramatic step up for Hochul after she became Governor in 2021, and previously lived in a $485,000 condo in Buffalo, New York, according to the Post.
After her egg price comments sparked outrage this week, Hochul’s spokesperson Avi Small said in a statement that ‘the Governor was telling the truth.’
‘For the first time, the annual Easter Egg Roll at the Executive Residence — which hosts the kids of law enforcement officials, local community members and state workers — won’t feature real eggs because of high costs,’ he said.
‘Governor Hochul is addressing the high cost of living by proposing middle-class tax cuts, inflation refunds and a massive child tax credit, which seems like a better use of taxpayers’ time than bitter grumbling by well-paid state legislators.’
