. . . and helping you save your hard-earned money

Governor’s budget raises taxes

The Governor’s state budget proposal is full of higher taxes and fees that would be especially detrimental to Hudson Valley families. He plans:

• new and increased DMV fees totaling $290 million, including hiking registration fees by 33 percent for most passenger vehicles and as much as 75 percent for certain vehicles

• a more than 32 percent increase in camping fees

• a whopping 350 percent increase in ATV registration fees

Governor proposes massive co-payment increases for care and prescriptions

The Governor’s planned cuts to Family Health Plus would eliminate vital services for many families, including dental, vision, medical equipment, home health services and hospice.

His plan also attacks Family Health Plus members by hiking co-payments for:

• inpatient hospital care from $25 to $250

• prescription drugs from $1 to $10

• outpatient surgery to $75

• emergency room visits to $50

The governor again proposes “sick tax” on hospitals

This year, the Governor’s health care cuts and “sick tax” would cost Hudson Valley hospitals more than $2.4 million and more than $12.1 million over the next five years – an expense that would eventually be passed on to patients. His budget would cost:

• Benedictine Hospital $1 million this year and more than $5.3 million over five years

• Ellenville Regional Hospital $73,000 this year and more than $365,000 over five years

• The Kingston Hospital over $1 million this year and almost $5.1 million over five years

• Northern Dutchess Hospital $247,000 this year and over $1.2 million over five years

Cahill is fighting for tax relief

Last year, Kevin Cahill supported the state takeover of Family Health Plus, a law that will save Ulster and Dutchess Counties over $3.3 million annually beginning in 2006.

And with support from families like yours, Mr. Cahill helped defeat the Governor’s proposal to raise firearm and ATV fees last year and restore many of his cuts to health care. Mr. Cahill will again fight for a fiscally responsible budget that doesn’t unfairly tax Hudson Valley families or compromise the health care we depend on.