For Immediate Release: March 29, 2010
1 Week After “No” Vote on Health Care, Rep. Arcuri Raises Money from Albany Lobbyists
Advocates Protest Fundraiser – Ask If Rep. Arcuri is On the Side of Big Insurance or Working Families
Albany, NY – On Monday evening, health care activists from upstate New York, members of Citizen Action of New York, CWA and 1199 SEIU, picketed outside a fundraiser for Representative Michael Arcuri being held at the offices of Capitol Public Strategies, an Albany lobbying firm.
In a betrayal of his constituents, and everyone in New York and America, Representative Arcuri voted against the health care reform bill when it came before the House of Representatives last week. The health care reform package that is now law will improve health coverage for 381,000 of Rep. Arcuri’s constituents, extend coverage to 21,000 24th District residents who are currently uninsured, help 12,200 small businesses provide coverage to their employees through tax credits, and allow 56,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ plans.
One week after historic health care reform legislation was signed into law, despite his vote against the bill, Rep. Arcuri came to Albany to fundraise for his reelection campaign at the offices of an Albany lobbying firm that lists Aetna, a major health insurance company that opposed reform, as one of their clients.
Mary Clark, Health Care Campaign Coordinator, Citizen Action of New York said, “Rep. Arcuri decided to vote against working families who are facing enormous financial hardship because of medical costs tied directly to insurance company greed. Today’s fundraiser at a lobbying firm begs the question: Congressman Arcuri, which side are you on? Are you on the side of big insurance companies and lobbyists that are concerned only with protecting their profits? Or are you on the side of your constituents, including the 21,000 uninsured who will now have access to quality, affordable health care?”
“As a primary care physician in Congressman Arcuri’s district, I see how the status quo is hurting people every day,” said Dr. Dan Driscoll of Whitney Point, NY. “We now have an open door to provide affordable health care to everyone in America. I hope Congressman Arcuri will work toward that goal in the future.”
“Working families can no longer afford skyrocketing health care costs,” said Mike Carmel of Communications Workers of America. “By voting against reform, Congressman Arcuri turned his back on unions and working families who fought tirelessly to elect him so that he would stand up for us in Congress.”
Now that health care reform is law, 32 million Americans will have access to quality, affordable health care.
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