The governor’s $1.5 billion health care cuts and taxes hurt New York

The governor tried to cut health care last year by $2 billion before the bi-partisan legislature stopped him. This year, the governor is repeating many of his wrong choices by proposing more cuts, including:

• $1.1 billion in cuts to Medicaid, which means a loss of 34,600 jobs and decreased health care coverage
• $60 million from the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) – driving pharmacies out of the program and making prescription drugs less available
• a “sick tax” on hospitals, nursing homes and home health care agencies that will cost these providers $429 million

Protecting local hospitals and nursing homes

Carrozza will stand up to the governor’s health care cuts, which, according to the Healthcare Association of New York State’s estimates, could cost local hospitals and nursing homes in the 26th Assembly District over $7.4 million.

Local hospitals and nursing homes affected by the governor’s proposed cuts include:

• Long Island Jewish Medical Center will lose nearly $4.5 million
• Ozanam Hall of Queens Nursing Home will lose $914,000
• Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehab will lose more than $1.6 million

Carrozza is fighting for local Medicaid relief

The governor’s local Medicaid relief proposal doesn’t go far enough, saving counties $24 million in the next fiscal year – less than one percent of their Medicaid bill. The Assembly has a record of improving health care without asking local governments to pay the price. The Assembly has advanced plans for the state to assume a larger portion of Medicaid, but the governor repeatedly opposed those plans, forcing local taxpayers statewide to pick up nearly $1 billion of Medicaid costs.

In fact, had the governor gone along with the Assembly’s proposals to have the state assume a larger share of Medicaid and the full non-federal share of Family Health Plus, New York City would have saved over $144 million just from November 2002 to October 2003.

Fighting for our children’s future

This year, one of the biggest issues facing us is the Campaign for Fiscal Equity ruling, which requires the state to provide a sound, basic education to all students. But the governor’s proposed budget offers only speculation about meeting the new court-ordered funding requirements, leaving schools with no idea how the state will help improve our children’s education.

The governor spent $11 million fighting to prove in court that an eighth-grade education is adequate for our children in this day and age. Fortunately for our children, he lost. The state’s highest court demands a sound, basic education. So does Assemblywoman Carrozza.

New York City schools would have received $1.6 billion less if the Assembly had gone along with the governor’s previous budget proposals. Each year, it’s the Assembly that must fight to provide schools with the resources they need to meet the high academic standards that will attract the jobs of tomorrow’s economy. Assemblywoman Carrozza won’t let the governor’s wrong choices jeopardize our priorities this year.

Assemblywoman Carrozza’s Record: Making the right choices for our children

Last year, the governor tried to cut school aid by $1.4 billion before Assemblywoman Carrozza and the Legislature stopped him, passing a bipartisan budget over his vetoes to restore $1.1 billion of his cuts. This year, ignoring inflation, rising enrollments, and the need to help students meet higher standards, the governor’s budget contains $369 million in cuts to school funding, and fails to meet commitments to reimburse local districts. New York City stands to lose:

• $33.1 million in funding for disabled children
• $41.3 million in transportation aid – money that was promised to reimburse schools for services they’ve already paid for
• $41.8 million in Teacher Support Aid
• nearly $8 million from Teacher Centers, which help keep our teachers well-trained and up-to date

His budget also places a moratorium on new school construction and proposes rationing building aid once his moratorium expires.

Providing much-needed home heating assistance

Winter’s cold weather and higher home heating bills put a serious strain on our families. That’s why Carrozza fought to ensure the Home Energy Assistance Program continues to provide financial assistance to qualified Queens residents to help pay those higher energy costs.

HEAP provides grants for heating bills ranging from $40 to $400 to eligible seniors 60 and over, those with disabilities and households with children under 6.

To receive an application or find out if you are eligible for HEAP benefits, contact the New York City Department for the Aging at 212-442-1000 or call the HEAP hotline at 1-800-342-3009. You can also visit www.otda.state.ny.us to download an application from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.