In today’s State of the State Address, Governor Andrew Cuomo boldly called for what could become the most important reform in the nation in 2012: reducing the massive influence of big money in our political system through a voluntary system of public financing of elections for New York State. In a year when unlimited corporate spending will dominate national elections, the Governor is proposing that New York State take the lead in putting our democracy back in the hands of the 99%.

The Occupy movement has inspired a national conversation that puts focus squarely on the destructive role of money in politics. Public financing of elections has proven to be an effective system to increase public participation in our political system and make elected officials more accountable to their constituents, rather than big corporations, lobbyists, and high donors.

Under the kind of system outlined by the Governor today, small contributions made by regular New Yorkers will be matched with public funds, making it possible for candidates who refuse big money contributions to win election with the support of contributions from the 99%. There is no better way to put our government back in the hands of the people, reduce government corruption, and restore public trust than a system of publicly financed voter owned elections.

For years the Assembly has shown great leadership by passing legislation, sponsored by Speaker Silver, to create a public campaign financing system based on the New York City model. Our 20,000 members and dozens of allied organizations will strongly urge the State Senate to join the Assembly and Governor in rejecting the old system of pay-to-play politics, and finally allow New Yorkers to own their elections once again.

Governor Cuomo made it clear today that New York needs public financing of elections so ordinary New Yorkers can once again play an active role in our democracy. Without public funding of elections, the public will continue to be shut out of state government – while the corporate lobbyists call the shots. Passage of public financing of elections will ensure that all citizens of the state have their voices heard in state politics.

We’re proud to work alongside Governor Cuomo and with our strong supporters in the legislature to make sure public financing of elections is enacted in 2012, and we applaud him for making it a priority.

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In response to the economic plan announced today, Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York said:

After several years of devastating budget cuts to schools, services, and our safety net, Governor Cuomo today responded to a strong movement of concerned New Yorkers by working with Speaker Silver to produce a new, more progressive tax system that will turn our state’s economy back in the right direction and create desperately needed jobs.

Citizen Action applauds this progress, but more needs to be done. Our 20,000 members will continue to organize for economic justice for the 99%, including working to solve the remaining state budget deficit by closing corporate tax loopholes and through other revenue raising measures, not more budget cuts. New York State’s economic problems are far from over. Corporate tax reform is the most important, and most rational, next step in creating a more fair New York.

New York’s Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant Application

For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 20th

For Info: Nikki Jones, AQE Communications Director, njones@aqeny.org,

Karen Scharff, CANY Executive Director,  kscharff@citizenactionny.org

The Alliance for Quality Education and Citizen Action of New York applaud Governor Cuomo, the Early Childhood Advisory Council and all the state agencies involved for their submission of a $100 million Early Learning Challenge grant proposal to the federal government. The state’s application places a focused priority on the most critical learning years of every child’s life and  provides a comprehensive approach to strengthening early childhood education in New York State in order to close the achievement gap.

AQE and Citizen Action of NY also strongly support the proposal’s inclusion of the QUALITYStarsNY program, which will provide both professional and program development in early learning programs across the state and will empower parents of young children. These outcomes will increase the number of opportunities for every child to receive high quality early education and arrive in Kindergarten ready to learn.  Research shows that when children are engaged at an early age they go on to experience educational success in college and in their careers.

AQE and Citizen Action of NY are statewide organizations focused on organizing parents, students and communities in support of access to quality public education for all children.

www.aqeny.org & www.citizenactionny.org

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We support President Obama’s federal tax-reform proposal to assure fair-share tax payments from millionaires and wind down tax cuts for the wealthy.  We urge support of these proposals in Washington, and we urge support for similar policies in Albany.

• It’s not right for middle-class families to pay higher tax rates than millionaires and billionaires.

The “Buffett Rule” being proposed by the President would make sure that high earning households can’t use loopholes and shelters to defeat progressive tax rates currently in place at the federal level.

• And it’s not right to cut taxes on the well off when we’re in a fiscal crisis.

President Obama is calling for an end to the Bush tax cuts for the rich as part of his deficit-reduction plan, and we support him in this effort.  If poor and working people are going to take a hit in tough economic times, it shouldn’t be to pay for more tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

Fair-share tax policies have the broad support of a majority of Americans – and of a majority of New Yorkers.  Closing deficits thorough a mix of some budget cuts and some revenue increases focusing on fair-share taxes on the wealthiest families is just common sense.

We urge Governor Cuomo and the Legislature to take the same steps in Albany as President Obama is taking in Washington:

• Stop the planned $5 billion tax cut for the wealthiest New Yorkers;
• Implement progressive tax reforms that include new brackets on high-end households;
• Restore the worst cuts to schools, human services and local governments;
• Invest in real job creation initiatives to put New Yorkers back to work.

Strong Economy for All Coalition, Growing Together NY, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, United NY, Alliance for Quality Education, Citizen Action of New York, Human Services Council, New York Communities for Change, New Deal for New York, Make The Road New York, Center for Working Families

Brooklyn, NY – Citizen Action of New York, a statewide, grassroots organization that fights for social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, today announced their support of David Weprin to represent New York in the 9th district of the US House of Representatives.

“Citizen Action applauds David Weprin for his commitment to equality and religious freedom, as well as his unwavering support for the rights of all New Yorkers,” said Té Revesz, co-chair of Citizen Action of New York City. “David Weprin has built himself a strong record of standing up for the right of tenants, seniors, and students in New York. We are proud to offer him our endorsement and to work to ensure he is elected to Congress.”

As America continues to face extremely high unemployment, and social safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security continue to be threatened, Citizen Action of New York strongly believes that we need more representatives in Congress who are willing to fight for working families.

The special election for New York’s 9th Congressional District will be held on September 13, 2011.

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For Immediate Release: September 1, 2011

Restoring the American Promise Network Says Hurricane Disaster Affirms Interdependence of Communities and Regions in the United States

Criticizes Congressman Cantor for Proposing More Budget Cuts to Pay for New York and Northeast Disaster

The Restoring the American Promise (RAP) network said today that the Hurricane Irene disaster that has devastated wide swaths of eastern New York and the northeastern states has proven again the importance of strong state and federal governments which need to be there for people in need. The coalition criticized Virginia Congressman and GOP House Majority Leader Eric Cantor for his statement that disaster relief will be approved only if Congress identifies other cuts in spending.

“What we have seen and learned again is that when persons are in need and lose everything, their neighbors, local associations and the state and federal governments must be there to help,” said Michael Burgess of the New York Statewide Senior Action Council. ”This disaster in addition to the disasters earlier this year with tornadoes and flooding in the south and the Midwest have proven that we are one nation of interdependent people who have to be there for each other.”

“Congressman Cantor chooses to use every opportunity from the debt ceiling to disasters to create a spending crisis because he wants to limit the federal government’s role in American life. That debate can be had in the regular budget process but not when people need help. What has happened to people from Prattsville to Keene to Windham has been so devastating that the towns, counties and even the state does not have enough resources to rebuild,” said Mary Clark of Citizen Action of New York and the RAP coordinator.

RAP is launching an ongoing initiative to monitor and inform the public of actions by members of Congress that threaten the middle class and those who need social safety net programs, including disaster relief.

“To insist on budget cuts to pay for disaster relief will likely hurt many other persons who use and need government services at a time when the economy is still reeling,” said Dennis Tracey, Executive Director of New York State Alliance for Retired Americans, whose home has been without power since the storm. Tracey called on the entire New York Congressional delegation to support funding for disaster relief and not to create a funding stalemate because of different views on the size and role of the federal government.

The RAP network represents 40 New York State organizations and was formed to defend the social safety net in the state and the nation. The network has been calling attention this summer to the debate on federal spending and the need for more revenues to support public services.

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Contact: Charlie Albanetti, 518.595.9047

Media Advisory for
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Advocates to Albany Leaders: What’s the Hold Up on the Health Insurance Exchange Law?

State May Lose Out On Millions in Federal Dollars without Action

Albany, NY – On Wednesday, members of the Health Care for All New York coalition and other health groups will release an open letter to Governor Cuomo, Senator Skelos and Speaker Silver urging them to quickly enact legislation establishing New York’s Health Insurance Exchange, as required under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in March of 2010.

Dozens of health care advocates will be present to call on New York’s elected officials to maintain the state’s tradition of national leadership on health care by passing legislation creating an Exchange. Under the ACA, the State is in line to get millions of federal grant funds to set up an Exchange that helps consumers and small businesses find and use affordable, quality health coverage. Federal funding should be secured this year before Congress acts to terminate this funding opportunity in the upcoming budget fight. The state must enact legislation to create the Exchange before the legislative session ends on June 20th in order to get this federal funding and to have the Exchange operational for consumers and small businesses by 2013.

Who: AARP, American Cancer Society, Children’s Defense Fund of NY, Citizen Action of New York, Community Health Care Association of New York State, Community Service Society of NY, Empire Justice Center, Medicaid Matters, Metro Health Care for All Campaign, New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage, Make the Road New York, New York Immigration Coalition, Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, Small Business Majority, Western NY Health Care Coalition and more.

When: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 – 11:00 am

Where: LCA Press Room 130, Legislative Office Building, Albany

Visual: dozens of advocates, blown up US tracking map and timeline for Insurance Exchange

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Contact: Charlie Albanetti, 518.595.9047

Media Advisory for
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Advocates to Albany Leaders: What’s the Hold Up on the Health Insurance Exchange Law?

State May Lose Out On Millions in Federal Dollars without Action

Albany, NY – On Wednesday, members of the Health Care for All New York coalition and other health groups will release an open letter to Governor Cuomo, Senator Skelos and Speaker Silver urging them to quickly enact legislation establishing New York’s Health Insurance Exchange, as required under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in March of 2010.

Dozens of health care advocates will be present to call on New York’s elected officials to maintain the state’s tradition of national leadership on health care by passing legislation creating an Exchange. Under the ACA, the State is in line to get millions of federal grant funds to set up an Exchange that helps consumers and small businesses find and use affordable, quality health coverage. Federal funding should be secured this year before Congress acts to terminate this funding opportunity in the upcoming budget fight. The state must enact legislation to create the Exchange before the legislative session ends on June 20th in order to get this federal funding and to have the Exchange operational for consumers and small businesses by 2013.

Who: AARP, American Cancer Society, Children’s Defense Fund of NY, Citizen Action of New York, Community Health Care Association of New York State, Community Service Society of NY, Empire Justice Center, Medicaid Matters, Metro Health Care for All Campaign, New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage, Make the Road New York, New York Immigration Coalition, Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, Small Business Majority, Western NY Health Care Coalition and more.

When: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 – 11:00 am

Where: LCA Press Room 130, Legislative Office Building, Albany

Visual: dozens of advocates, blown up US tracking map and timeline for Insurance Exchange

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Contact: Charlie Albanetti, 518.595.9047

Advocates to Albany Leaders: What’s the Hold Up on the Health Insurance Exchange Law?

New York Must Act Now to Secure Millions in Federal Funding and Offer Affordable Coverage to Uninsured

Albany, NY – On Wednesday, 85 organizations, including member organizations of Health Care for All New York and other health care and consumer rights groups, released an open letter to Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver urging them to quickly enact legislation establishing New York’s Health Insurance Exchange, as required under the federal Affordable Care Act passed in March of 2010. If New York fails to pass legislation authorizing the creation of the exchange by the end of the current legislative session (June 20th), the state may lose millions in federal grant money available to assist with implementation. The new health insurance market place will be open to over a million of New York’s uninsured, as well as tens of thousands of small businesses, offering them more affordable health insurance.

New York State, well known for innovative health care policy, is quickly falling behind other states in establishing the framework for an Exchange. Already, California, Vermont, Maryland, and West Virginia have enacted establishing legislation and other states including Washington, Colorado, and Hawaii are expected to do so shortly. In total, 7 states have passed exchange establishing legislation, 24 have legislation or an official process to adopt legislation pending, and New York joins the total of 13 states that have no legislation currently under consideration. The groups are urging Albany’s leaders to enact establishment legislation now in order to tackle to the myriad of complex health policy, insurance and financial decisions must be made in the next two years for the Exchange to operational by the summer of 2013.

“Time is running out for New York’s health consumers and small businesses who face out-of-control health insurance costs,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, Vice President of Health Initiatives at the Community Service Society of New York. “State leaders must act now to pass legislation that will establish an Insurance Exchange. By doing so, New York can take advantage of federal funds to underwrite all of the start-up costs associated with creating an insurance marketplace which will offer high quality, affordable health coverage for our state’s working families and small businesses.”

“With approximately 500,000 uninsured New Yorkers between the ages of 50-64, it is imperative that the state move forward quickly to establish the Health Exchange,” said Lois Wagh Aronstein, AARP New York State Director. “AARP is committed to helping ensure access to affordable health care and prescription drug coverage for our members. The Health Exchange will help people obtain the health care they need.”

“Consumers want greater control, more choices, better quality, increased transparency, and competition in the health insurance market-place,” said Jessica Wisneski, Legislative Director of Citizen Action of New York and Chair of the Health Care for All New York Steering Committee. “But, they also want the assurance that there are high standards and a watch dog to protect them from insurance company abuses. New York must pass legislation that sets up a consumer-driven governing body and structure for the Exchange this session.”

“The Exchange is the cornerstone to ensure that all New Yorkers will have access to health insurance,” said Blair Horner, Vice President of Advocacy for the American Cancer Society of New York And New Jersey. “For cancer patients, lack of insurance can lead to bankruptcy, devastating illness, or worse. New York State must act this session to set up the Exchange that will provide insurance for the tens of thousands living with cancer for years to come.”

“New York State has the opportunity to take steps to establish a robust, consumer-friendly Statewide Insurance Exchange under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but this action needs to take place now, and we’re looking to the Governor and State Legislature to make it happen,” said Ms. Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director, The New York Immigration Coalition. “And the legislation developed should ensure an exchange that is accessible to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status or language spoken, and that reaffirms New York’s leadership nationally in providing health care coverage.”

“As high users of health care, people with disabilities and serious illnesses need an Exchange that can be an unbiased source of information and assistance to help them choose comprehensive, affordable to use health coverage,” said Heidi Siegfried, Esq., Director of Health Policy for New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage.

“The creation of New York’s health insurance exchange will finally provide a place where women can shop for affordable, good quality health insurance for our families,” said Lois Uttley, co-founder of Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need. “We urge our Governor and Legislative leaders to take the necessary steps now to create the framework for this health insurance ‘supermarket,’ so it will be ready to serve New York families on time, with top-notch customer service.”

“The Affordable Care Act is historic legislation that offers a new opportunity and resources to ‘leader states’ like New York to address our state’s health care crisis and move toward universal health care in a major way,” said Mark Hannay, Director of the Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign, a citywide coalition of community groups and labor unions. “Last year, President Obama and the 110th Congress did their job in creating this new platform and framework for states. Now, it’s time for Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature to step up to the plate this year. We look forward to working with them to craft legislation before the end of session that will create a new robust health insurance exchange that will go to bat for consumers and small businesses across New York and be a true ‘game changer.’”

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For Immediate Release: May 23, 2011
Contact: Charlie Albanetti, 518.595.9047

Citizen Action Applauds Schneiderman/DiNapoli Plan to Fight Corruption

Attorney General and Comptroller to Shine Light on Fraud and Abuse

Albany, NY - Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York, made this statement after Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comprotroller Thomas DiNapoli announced the creation of a new joint task force on public integrity:

“If you’re tired of all the rain in Albany, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s new task force on public integrity is sure to shine a little sunlight on your day. As clouds loom over an end of session ethics deal, the Attorney General and Comptroller are using existing law to fight corruption and misuse of tax-payer money in a new, creative way.

Corporations that receive tax credits and government contracts, and the politicians who send the money their way, must be held accountable to New York’s taxpayers.

Attorney General Schneiderman and Comptroller DiNapoli are working to aggressively combat corruption and fraud the way that our elected officials should: by teaming up to create an efficient and effective government partnership that truly puts the interests of the people first.”

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