PRESS RELEASES

Albany – The day President Obama’s historic budget is expected to pass its first hurdle, Citizen Action of New York, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness and Health Care for America Now joined together to announce New York’s participation in a major national campaign to pass President Barack Obama’s historic budget plan.

“In an extraordinarily difficult budget year, the Governor and legislative leaders took a number of very important steps that will expand coverage to large numbers of New York’s 2.5 million uninsured. The elimination of face-to-face interviews, the asset test and finger-printing for some applicants are commonsense steps that move New York in the direction of encouraging the insured to get necessary medical care rather than treating them like criminals. The Legislature also adopted the Governor’s proposal to authorize the expansion of Family Health Plus to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. We applaud this critical expansion of health coverage, and will add our voice to make sure New York gets the federal approval and funding to make sure that happens. We must all work together now to make sure that Congress passes a quality, universal health care plan, so that all New Yorkers of all income levels are covered.”

Albany, NY – Over the weekend, legislative leaders and the Governor announced compromise on the FY 2009-10 state budget, including a personal income tax increase on the wealthiest New Yorkers. Two new tax brackets will be added, for New Yorkers earning over $300,000 and $500,000 annually, which will result in over $4 billion in sorely needed revenue to assist in closing the $16+ billion deficit.

ALBANY – Hundreds of community members and local leaders gathered on the Capitol steps on Thursday to urge Governor Paterson to meet New York’s budget shortfall by raising state income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers instead of slashing health care, education and other vital services. Their voices joined a chorus of tens of thousands who participated in 8 rallies across the state from Buffalo to Long Island.

Albany, New York — This morning, Congressman Paul Tonko and Congressional candidate Scott Murphy joined local activists and supporters of Health Care for America Now (HCAN) at the Whitney Young Community Health Center where they signed on to the campaign to win quality, affordable health care for all in 2009. They also used this event to announce their commitment to propel comprehensive health care reform to the top of the Congressional agenda this year.

Albany – Recognizing his dedication to providing health care for all Americans and his experience in creating jobs that will strengthen our economy, Citizen Action of New York has endorsed Scott Murphy in the 20th Congressional District special election.

Albany–Major education advocacy groups were joined by Education Committee Chairwomen Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan and Senator Suzi Oppenheimer in releasing data showing that 64% of school districts face cuts in excess of $15,000 per classroom with 60 districts facing cuts over $30,000 per classroom. The education organizations called on the state legislature to reject Governor Paterson’s $2.5 billion cut to schools and instead to support Fair Share Tax Reform that would raise taxes on New Yorkers earning over $250,000 a year.

Albany – Citizen Action of New York praised a group of State Senators for introducing today a “Fair Share Tax Reform” bill that would raise more than $6 billion in new revenue by increasing taxes on the 2% of wealthy New Yorkers that make more than $250,000 a year. On a day when the federal economic stimulus bill faces a crucial vote in the U.S. Senate, the social justice organization said that the state must work with the Obama administration to jumpstart the state economy and protect vital state services like education and health care.

Citizen Action of New York today announced its support for Assembly bill A.11838, which would create a property tax circuit breaker that would immediately provide relief from New York’s property tax crisis to homeowners, while ensuring funding for quality education for our children. This solution will be paid for by a small tax increase on the wealthiest New Yorkers.

Statement by Karen Scharff
Executive Director, Citizen Action of New York
Special Advisor to the Commission on Property Tax Relief
Today’s preliminary report from the Suozzi Commission contains a mixture of good and bad ideas.

The proposed tax cap is the wrong way to restrain property tax growth — it will negatively impact the quality of education in struggling school districts. A cap will maintain and possibly increase existing inequities in student achievement, leaving poor children and children of color behind.

There was good news and bad news in a survey of whether New York hospitals are complying with a landmark law that took effect in 2007 to protect uninsured New Yorkers from high hospital bills. The survey by the Public Policy and Education Fund of New York found that many hospitals were voluntarily offering greater financial assistance than the law requires. However, the survey also found that the great majority of hospital policies had major areas where hospitals did not follow the law, with almost four-out-of-ten receiving an F or a D grade.