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New York does not have a revenue problem. It has a leadership problem.
Candidate positionThe State Comptroller is one of the most powerful fiscal offices in the country, yet it is not being used to its full potential. Oversight is slow. Audits are reactive. Waste is discovered after the money is already gone. As Comptroller, I will modernize oversight, demand accountability, and protect taxpayers with real-time tools, transparency, and enforcement that actually works. Below are the core issues my administration will tackle.
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The State Comptroller is one of the most powerful fiscal offices in the country, yet it is not being used to its full potential. Oversight is slow. Audits are reactive. Waste is discovered after the money is already gone. As Comptroller, I will modernize oversight, demand accountability, and protect taxpayers with real-time tools, transparency, and enforcement that actually works. Below are the core issues my administration will tackle.
Audit Spending and Rein In Albany
Candidate positionHernandez will aggressively audit state agencies, public authorities, programs, and major spending initiatives to identify waste, unnecessary costs, and programs that are failing to deliver results. He will scrutinize the state budget for excessive spending, hidden liabilities, unrealistic assumptions, and long-term obligations that put taxpayers at risk.
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Hernandez will aggressively audit state agencies, public authorities, programs, and major spending initiatives to identify waste, unnecessary costs, and programs that are failing to deliver results. He will scrutinize the state budget for excessive spending, hidden liabilities, unrealistic assumptions, and long-term obligations that put taxpayers at risk.
Protect Taxpayers Before the Money Is Spent
Candidate positionThe Comptroller has significant authority to review state contracts before taxpayer dollars go out the door. Hernandez will use that authority aggressively.
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The Comptroller has significant authority to review state contracts before taxpayer dollars go out the door. Hernandez will use that authority aggressively.
Protect Property Taxpayers and Local Governments
Candidate positionHernandez will protect the integrity of the property tax cap and work to reduce the financial pressures that drive local taxes higher. That includes strengthening pension performance, controlling unnecessary costs, and bringing greater discipline to state spending.
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Hernandez will protect the integrity of the property tax cap and work to reduce the financial pressures that drive local taxes higher. That includes strengthening pension performance, controlling unnecessary costs, and bringing greater discipline to state spending.
Create a Fraud Strike Task Force
Candidate positionHernandez will establish a dedicated Fraud Strike Task Force focused on identifying suspicious spending patterns, uncovering organized fraud schemes, coordinating investigations, and referring credible cases to law enforcement and prosecutors.
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Hernandez will establish a dedicated Fraud Strike Task Force focused on identifying suspicious spending patterns, uncovering organized fraud schemes, coordinating investigations, and referring credible cases to law enforcement and prosecutors.
Stop Fraud Before Taxpayer Money Is Gone
Candidate positionHernandez will push the Comptroller’s office toward stronger pre-payment monitoring, advanced data analysis, and modern fraud-detection tools that can flag suspicious claims, vendors, and transactions before taxpayer dollars are paid out.
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Hernandez will push the Comptroller’s office toward stronger pre-payment monitoring, advanced data analysis, and modern fraud-detection tools that can flag suspicious claims, vendors, and transactions before taxpayer dollars are paid out.
Audit the MTA, Medicaid and Major Spending Programs
Candidate positionHernandez will prioritize aggressive audits of the MTA, Medicaid, CDPAP, state agencies, public authorities, and other major spending programs. His office will examine procurement, contracts, overtime, administrative costs, capital projects, improper payments, cost overruns, and other areas vulnerable to waste and abuse.
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Hernandez will prioritize aggressive audits of the MTA, Medicaid, CDPAP, state agencies, public authorities, and other major spending programs. His office will examine procurement, contracts, overtime, administrative costs, capital projects, improper payments, cost overruns, and other areas vulnerable to waste and abuse.
Strengthen the Pension Fund
Candidate positionThe Comptroller serves as sole trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund. That responsibility requires disciplined investment management, strong risk controls, transparency, and a focus on long-term performance.
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The Comptroller serves as sole trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund. That responsibility requires disciplined investment management, strong risk controls, transparency, and a focus on long-term performance.
Cut Excessive Wall Street Fees
Candidate positionHernandez will demand greater transparency and accountability from outside investment managers and carefully evaluate whether the returns they generate justify the fees they charge.
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Hernandez will demand greater transparency and accountability from outside investment managers and carefully evaluate whether the returns they generate justify the fees they charge.
Create the Empire Opportunity Fund
Candidate positionHernandez will pursue the creation of a $10 billion Empire Opportunity Fund to identify competitive investment opportunities connected to New York businesses, industries, infrastructure, and economic growth, while maintaining the Comptroller’s fiduciary responsibility to retirees.
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Hernandez will pursue the creation of a $10 billion Empire Opportunity Fund to identify competitive investment opportunities connected to New York businesses, industries, infrastructure, and economic growth, while maintaining the Comptroller’s fiduciary responsibility to retirees.
New Yorkers deserve a Comptroller who will protect their tax dollars, fight fraud, and invest in New York’s future.
Candidate positionAs New York State Comptroller, Joseph Hernandez will bring financial discipline, independent oversight, and an investor’s mindset to Albany. His approach is simple: stop Albany’s tax-and-spend policies, fight fraud and abuse, and make responsible investments that strengthen the pension fund and grow New York’s economy.
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As New York State Comptroller, Joseph Hernandez will bring financial discipline, independent oversight, and an investor’s mindset to Albany. His approach is simple: stop Albany’s tax-and-spend policies, fight fraud and abuse, and make responsible investments that strengthen the pension fund and grow New York’s economy.
Stop Albany’s Tax and Spend Policies
Candidate positionJoseph Hernandez believes New York has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. As Comptroller, he will bring an independent set of eyes to state finances, challenge reckless spending, and make sure taxpayers are getting value for every dollar Albany takes from them.
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Joseph Hernandez believes New York has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. As Comptroller, he will bring an independent set of eyes to state finances, challenge reckless spending, and make sure taxpayers are getting value for every dollar Albany takes from them.
Fight Fraud and Abuse
Candidate positionJoseph Hernandez will make fighting fraud a central mission of the Comptroller’s office, using audits, technology, data, and the office’s oversight authority to detect suspicious spending earlier and hold those responsible accountable.
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Joseph Hernandez will make fighting fraud a central mission of the Comptroller’s office, using audits, technology, data, and the office’s oversight authority to detect suspicious spending earlier and hold those responsible accountable.
Create a Fraud Strike Task Force
Candidate positionThe mission will be straightforward: identify fraud faster, stop improper payments sooner, and recover taxpayer dollars whenever possible.
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The mission will be straightforward: identify fraud faster, stop improper payments sooner, and recover taxpayer dollars whenever possible.
Audit the MTA, Medicaid and Major Spending Programs
Candidate positionAudit findings will be made clear and accessible to the public. When evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered, it will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
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Audit findings will be made clear and accessible to the public. When evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered, it will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
Pension investment and New York opportunities
Candidate positionNew York manages one of the largest public pension funds in the country. Joseph Hernandez believes those assets should be managed first and foremost to protect retirees and generate strong long-term returns. But when competitive investment opportunities exist here at home, New York should not overlook them.
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New York manages one of the largest public pension funds in the country. Joseph Hernandez believes those assets should be managed first and foremost to protect retirees and generate strong long-term returns. But when competitive investment opportunities exist here at home, New York should not overlook them.
Strengthen the Pension Fund
Candidate positionHernandez will review investment performance, asset allocation, outside managers, and costs to ensure pension dollars are being managed efficiently and responsibly.
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Hernandez will review investment performance, asset allocation, outside managers, and costs to ensure pension dollars are being managed efficiently and responsibly.
Cut Excessive Wall Street Fees
Candidate positionInvestment decisions will be driven by performance, risk, and long-term value—not politics, ideology, or relationships with Wall Street.
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Investment decisions will be driven by performance, risk, and long-term value—not politics, ideology, or relationships with Wall Street.
Create the Empire Opportunity Fund
Candidate positionInvestments must stand on their own financial merits. There will be no political pet projects and no sacrificing pension returns to advance an ideological agenda.
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Investments must stand on their own financial merits. There will be no political pet projects and no sacrificing pension returns to advance an ideological agenda.
New Yorkers deserve a Comptroller who will protect their tax dollars, fight fraud, and invest in New York’s future.
Candidate positionStop Albany’s tax-and-spend policies by auditing government spending, scrutinizing state contracts, protecting the property tax cap, and demanding better value for taxpayers.
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Stop Albany’s tax-and-spend policies by auditing government spending, scrutinizing state contracts, protecting the property tax cap, and demanding better value for taxpayers.
Strengthen the Pension Fund
Candidate positionA stronger pension fund protects the retirement security of public employees while helping reduce contribution pressure on local governments and taxpayers.
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A stronger pension fund protects the retirement security of public employees while helping reduce contribution pressure on local governments and taxpayers.
Create the Empire Opportunity Fund
Candidate positionWhen strong opportunities exist in New York, New York capital should have the opportunity to invest in them—from advanced manufacturing and technology to energy, life sciences, logistics, and other industries capable of creating jobs and long-term economic growth.
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When strong opportunities exist in New York, New York capital should have the opportunity to invest in them—from advanced manufacturing and technology to energy, life sciences, logistics, and other industries capable of creating jobs and long-term economic growth.
New Yorkers deserve a Comptroller who will protect their tax dollars, fight fraud, and invest in New York’s future.
Candidate positionFight fraud and abuse with aggressive audits, stronger pre-payment fraud detection, and a dedicated Fraud Strike Task Force focused on stopping improper payments and holding wrongdoers accountable.
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Fight fraud and abuse with aggressive audits, stronger pre-payment fraud detection, and a dedicated Fraud Strike Task Force focused on stopping improper payments and holding wrongdoers accountable.
New Yorkers deserve a Comptroller who will protect their tax dollars, fight fraud, and invest in New York’s future.
Candidate positionInvest in New York by strengthening pension performance, cutting excessive Wall Street fees, and pursuing disciplined, market-driven investments that can create jobs and economic growth across the state.
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Invest in New York by strengthening pension performance, cutting excessive Wall Street fees, and pursuing disciplined, market-driven investments that can create jobs and economic growth across the state.
