Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2009

     PRESS STATEMENT
CONCERNING THE ATTEMPTED SHIFT IN POWER
WITHIN THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE

OUTSIDE THE OFFICE OF SENATOR PEDRO ESPADA
IN THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL
ALBANY, NY

DURING A PROTEST
COORDINATED BY CITIZEN ACTION OF NEW YORK

Yesterday, we witnessed a “billionaire coup d’etat” here in Albany because a very rich man did not want to pay higher taxes needed to pay for, among other things, Medicaid and other public health insurance programs for uninsured New Yorkers, a number that is growing daily during a serious economic recession when thousands of New Yorkers are losing their jobs and their employer-based health coverage.

This coup, if successful, will stop a whole variety of vital bills that are coming to the fore in the closing days of this year’s legislative session from moving forward, including important reforms to make comprehensive health insurance more affordable, especially important during a recession when more and more people are losing employer-based coverage and must purchase it on the open market.

Among these reforms is a bill proposed by Governor Paterson and Insurance Superintendent Dinallo to have the New York State Insurance Department approve all health insurance premium increases before they go into effect.  The insurance industry is fighting this very modest step tooth-and-nail.  Yet to everyday New Yorkers, this reform is a no-brainer.

 Last November, New Yorkers voted for bills like this when we voted for change.  Yesterday’s attempted billionaire coup d’etat has stopped the change New Yorkers desperately want and need.