Archive for October, 2008

Governor calls for federal help

Paterson, testifying before House committee, says government must pass an economic stimulus package to provide financial relief to states

By Juliann Vachon

As New York faces mounting budget shortfalls and a national financial crisis, Gov. David A. Paterson called on Congress yesterday for immediate aid, saying the federal government should help states cope with widespread economic turmoil.

Testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee, Paterson urged Congress to urgently pass an economic stimulus package that pours fiscal relief directly into New York.

Paterson’s testimony came a day after he announced the state faces a $47-billion budget gap over the next four years - the largest in New York’s history. State legislators have already started making spending cuts, but Paterson said federal help is still needed to reverse budget shortfalls.

“We are cutting all we can and we will cut all that we are able to, but inevitably, the deficit is too voluminous for us to address,” Paterson said. “We feel that targeted, sensible action by the federal government could provide relief for us now.”

Democrats in Congress are considering a second stimulus package - but one more focused on government spending designed to create jobs and not on one-time tax rebate checks. President George W. Bush has been cool to the idea, so Democrats may have to wait until next year, and hope they’ll have Barack Obama in the White House to support the plan.

Another governor, Republican Mark Sanford of South Carolina, disagreed with Paterson at the hearing and pleaded with Congress to avoid another stimulus package.

“If we simply add more money at this time and in essence bail out what are in some cases unsustainable programs, I think that we end up with real problems down the road,” Sanford said.

But Paterson said New York deserves federal help because it “has been shortchanged for years when it comes to aid from Washington.” In 2007, the state sent $86.9 billion more in taxes to the federal government than it got back.

Speaking to committee chairman Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) and other members, Paterson ran through a list of initiatives needing federal aid, such as repairing infrastructure, boosting the food stamp program, extending emergency unemployment benefits and putting a moratorium on federal regulations that harm state budgets.

Paterson, in his written testimony, also blamed the federal government for allowing financial institutions to go unregulated to the point of near-collapse.

“States didn’t cause this crisis and we shouldn’t be left to deal with it alone,” he said. “A rescue package from the federal government will help soften the blow for average Americans.”

Lawmakers Mull Stimulus Investment in Infrastructure

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff were expected Wednesday to start piecing together the infrastructure investment component of a pending stimulus package.

At the request of Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., the panel held a hearing with three sets of witnesses ranging from governors to economists to transportation experts to discuss the plan to stimulate the economy with new infrastructure jobs.

Chairman James L. Oberstar , D-Minn., said the committee would then get to work on its section of the stimulus to be ready for when Congress returns for a ‘lame duck’ session Nov. 17.

The goal of the stimulus would be to invest money in projects all over the country that could be up and running within 120 days. The American Association of State and Highway Officials identified more than 3,000 such projects.

“These are jobs that cannot be outsourced to another country because the work must be done here in the United States on our roads, bridges, transit and rail systems, airports, waterways and wastewater treatments,” Oberstar said.

Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey promised that his state would adhere strictly to funding prioritized projects outlined in the bill.

“We are going to this whether there is a stimulus or not,” Corzine said. “We can win against the winds.”

The tone of the first panel was one of cautious optimism — that the investments wouldn’t solve the current economic crisis, but could help speed its recovery.

Landmarks Vote Is a Victory for St. Vincent’s Hospital

By Glenn Collins

In an emotionally charged decision that some preservationists warned would set a precedent weakening protection for the city’s historic structures, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission voted 6 to 4 on Tuesday to approve the so-called hardship application of St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan.

GOVERNOR PATERSON CALLS ON CONGRESS TO INCLUDE STATES IN SHAPING REFORM AND OVERSIGHT OF THE RESCUE PLAN

Read the entire story: Economic Recovery 

Uninsured Young Adults Forum Report Released…

Daunting demographics, splintering private sectors and crippling costs stand in the way of a solution to the problems of gaining affordable health insurance for young adults in New York.

Providing health care for New York’s 800,000 uninsured young adults is costing hundreds of millions of dollars a year as youths are utilizing hospital emergency rooms as their primary care physicians. Furthermore, a profound human cost is incurred as the uninsured are vulnerable to potentially catastrophic medical hardships and consequently, economic difficulties. Young people have some of the greatest health needs, but have significantly reduced access to an adequate health system, instead they are faced to combat one that is structurally and fiscally stacked against them.

New York State and the federal government should give priority to developing an affordable choice for providing young adults with health insurance; unfortunately, this issue is clouded by the current uncertain economic times.

Those are some of the insights and conclusions of a special forum on Uninsured Young Adults in New York State organized by BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York, and co-sponsored by NYU Wagner Alumni Association, the American Cancer Society, Demos, and Freelancers Union. The forum and public discussion about the lack of health insurance coverage for young adults (ages 19-29) was held October 14, 2008 at the NYU School of Law and drew an audience of more than 100 health care advocates, health care professionals, young adult workers, students, union members and benefit providers. The event featured five panel discussions, and a one-woman award winning performance, Hot Cripple, by Hogan Gorman

Read the full report (PDF file): Uninsured Young Adults Forum Report