BALCONY - Business and Labor Coalition of New York

State of the State

State of the State Address 2010
David A. Paterson, Governor

Click here to view the presentation by Gov. Paterson.

A Time to Rebuild

Read the Full Text of the speech.

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State of the State Address 2009
David A. Paterson, Governor

“Our Time to Lead”

My fellow New Yorkers: Let me come straight to the point – the state of our state is perilous.

New York faces an historic economic challenge, the gravest in nearly a century. For several months, events have shaken us to the core. Bank closures, job losses and stock market meltdowns have destabilized the foundations of our economy. Since January 2008, two million Americans have lost their jobs. During this recession, an estimated 225,000 New Yorkers will be laid off. Many others have lost their homes. The pillars of Wall Street have crumbled. The global economy is reeling. Trillions of dollars of wealth have vanished.

Read the entire address/speech: State of the State

COMMENTS FROM THE BALCONY COALITION

BALCONY Says Federal Stimulus Funds Must Help New York. Workers Should Not Bear the Burden of New York’s Budget Crisis

BALCONY agrees with Governor David Paterson that New York State is in dire economic circumstances and will continue to work with the administration to develop solutions to budget crisis.

Both business and labor are experiencing the very real, very negative effects of this fiscal downturn. BALCONY looks to our elected officials to make carefully crafted decisions based on what most economists believe will help revive our state’s fiscal health. Neither cutting essential state services nor shifting the responsibility to local taxpayers is the answer to our problems. This is the time for greater investments in our schools and healthcare systems.

We do believe the Governor is taking a step in the right direction in his appeal to Washington to be sure that New York gets its fair share in the stimulus package in particular funding to revive our state’s crumbling infrastructure. Finally, we respectfully disagree that the state can climb out of this recession by cutting services to its citizens or shifting the burden of New York Budget crisis onto working families and small businesses.

In addition, BALCONY agrees with the Governor’s support for the innovative SAY YES to Education program, which offers free college tuition to students who meet educational standards. The BALCONY coalition has long supported support clean green energy efficiency. BALCONY is long on record favoring a 45 by 15 program that by the year 2015 New York state should meet 45% of its electricity needs through improved energy efficiency and clean renewable energy.

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BALCONY Supports Paterson Pledge for Health Care Coverage for New York’s Young Adults Ages 19-29

BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York, applauds Governor David Paterson for his commitment to affordable health care for all New Yorkers as he proposed in his state of the state address allowing families to maintain coverage for 19-29 year olds. BALCONY, which has made coverage of young adults a long standing priority, agrees with the Governor in that 1 in 3 young adults or 800,000 between the ages of 19-29 are uninsured is an “unacceptable” number and BALCONY pledges to help in the legislative battle to provide them with coverage. However, according to some this plan must be implemented in a way that doesn’t compromise the integrity of the community rating system and keep premiums affordable for chronically ill patients.

October 14, 2008, Uninsured Young Adults in New York Forum
(left to right) Robert L. Cafone, Dr. Barbie Gatton, Henry Amoroso, Catherine Abate

On October 14th BALCONY, The American Cancer Society, Demos, Freelancers Union and NYU Wagner Alumni Association co-sponsored a New York forum featuring prominent health care advocates, providers, insurers , labor unions, legislators and state officials on the uninsured young adults which highlighted their dire need for health insurance.

Click here for the major findings of the October BALCONY report.

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.”

(left to right) Bill Hohlfeld, Sara Horowitz, Roslyn Yasser, Troy Oechsner, Peter Slocum, Britta Riley

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NYSUT: STATE OF STATE LEAVES DOOR OPEN TO BUDGET RESOLUTION

While Gov. David Paterson’s State of the State message paints a grim picture of New York’s finances, New York State United Teachers today said middle-class families can be spared the deep pain caused by cuts to public education and health care.

“We agree with the governor that the road ahead will be difficult, but how New York recovers from this crisis depends on the route it chooses,” said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. “Maintaining New York’s investment in public education — at a time when schools are making progress ending the achievement gap and families are increasingly turning to SUNY, CUNY and community colleges for education and training — is the best way to get the state’s economy moving forward again.”

Iannuzzi noted, “There are alternatives to an executive budget of deep pain, and we applaud the governor for taking the lead and making a strong case in Washington for New York’s fair share of federal stimulus money.

Read the full statement: NYSUT

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By Energy Coalition Chairman Arthur “Jerry” Kremer

Jerry Kremer, retired chairman of the New York Assembly Ways & Means Committee, author of the original state power plant siting law, and Chairman of the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (New York AREA) today issued the following statement in conjunction with Governor Paterson’s state-of-the-state address.

“Governor Paterson clearly understands the importance of addressing our energy challenges so that New York can prosper and much needs to be done in this regard.

The Governor’s initiatives are laudable. We also need to keep clean sources of base load power online. This includes nuclear plants like Indian Point which alone accounts for more than 10 percent of the state’s portfolio, while not emitting greenhouse gases, which the Governor is committed to reducing. It is also imperative for New York to reinstitute its Article X power plant siting law to spur proposals for new facilities, as energy demand is growing and the pipeline for new projects has come to a halt. We need Article X so that New York can attract the capital needed to develop new and cleaner sources of electricity and spur other economic activity in the state especially during these austere times. We stand ready to work with the Governor and Legislature on these and other important matters.”

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Lois Aronstein, AARP NY State Director

Governor Paterson’s 2009 State of the State address put forth recommendations on a number of issues that are essential to the health care and financial security of New Yorkers of all ages.

AARP commends the Governor for proposing to expand the Family Health Plus Program to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, making more than 400,000 additional New Yorkers eligible for coverage. A fundamental goal of AARP is to ensure increased access to affordable health care and prescription drug coverage; Governor Paterson’s proposal would be a significant step toward achieving this goal for New Yorkers.

However, AARP urges the Governor to reconsider some of his proposed changes to the EPIC program that would no longer cover the cost of drugs for which no payment or reimbursement is made by Medicare Part D. We also strongly recommend that the Governor re-evaluate his proposed changes to Assisted Living programs that would create a two-tiered system – one for the poor and one for everybody else – and compromise the ability of older people to age in place.

Click here to read the full statement: AARP

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BALCONY Members gather in the March for Main Street

Click here for the full release: Main Street

March for Main Street: Middle class New Yorkers deserve better than paying more, getting less

ALBANY— Thousands of working New Yorkers converged on the state Capitol today to March for

Main Street. The march was scheduled to coincide with Gov. David Paterson’s first State of the State address to challenge the governor’s misplaced budget priorities that target middle class New Yorkers.

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“We helped organize the March for Main Street to send a message loud and clear,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “All working New Yorkers live on Main Street and it’s time for all of us to stand up and say no to proposals that will have us pay more and get less while the wealthiest New Yorkers slide by.”

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“The governor’s proposed 2009-10 budget includes destructive cuts in state services and the state work force while ignoring cost-cutting options that can save the state billions,” said state Public Employees Federation (PEF) President Ken Brynien. “Our members are already doing more with less having endured $1.5 billion in cuts to state agencies. It’s time our legislative leaders look elsewhere to balance the budget and start cutting the waste not the workers and taxing millionaires, not the middle class.”

Organized by CSEA, PEF, 1199 SEIU, SEIU 200United; AFSCME New York, District Council 37, the New York State Nurses Association and the New York State AFL-CIO, the event stressed that communities, jobs and services are at risk under the governor’s plan.

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“Registered nurses throughout New York state are already working with a level of staffing that can at best be described as ‘hazardous.’” said Barbara Crane, RN, president of the New York State Nurses Association Delegate Assembly. “Reductions in health care funding over the past decade have resulted in nurse-to-patient ratios that are both dangerous and intolerable.”

“We’ve seen staff reductions in primary, preventive, and outpatient care. Additional cuts of this magnitude would seriously jeopardize the quality of care delivered at health care facilities throughout the state and would put further stress on nurses who are already working short-handed,” Crane said. “Our hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are the most vital link to the health, safety, and well-being of the people in this state, and must be supported as such. We’re calling on the state to maintain its commitment to quality health care.”

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“The governor’s budget proposal makes some very dangerous choices,” said New York State AFL-CIO

President Denis Hughes. “Some of the cuts proposed will permanently damage this state, and make a

deepening recession even worse. The future of our state depends on a comprehensive, balanced approach

including a fair and progressive state income tax system. The New York State AFL-CIO looks forward to

working with all parties involved in the process. I’m confident that together we can make the right choices on behalf of New York’s working men and women.”

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EXPANDING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR YOUNG ADULTS, OBESITY PREVENTION POSITIVE STEPS IN FIGHTING CANCER

Statement from Donald Distasio, CEO, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ.

“Surviving cancer can depend on whether you have health insurance or on how good that health coverage is. By allowing families to keep 19-29 year olds on their health insurance, young adults can get through that critical period when most that age go without any kind of healthcare at all. It’s a critical first step toward achieving access to healthcare for all New Yorkers, and increasing the odds of surviving cancer. However, it must be implemented in a way that doesn’t compromise the integrity of the community rating system and keeps premiums affordable for chronically ill patients.

Governor Paterson’s five-point obesity prevention plan marks another cancer-fighting move by shining a light on the obesity-cancer link. The proposals would increase healthy choices for consumers, especially for low-income consumers who may not have access to fresh produce and non-processed foods. And by protecting our kids from the sugary drinks and snacks that lead to childhood obesity, we will set them up for a brighter, healthier future.”

Governor Paterson’s five-point obesity prevention plan includes:

· Banning trans fats from restaurants

· Menu-labeling for chain restaurants

· Banning junk food from schools

· Tax on non-diet sodas

· Fostering development of full-service supermarkets in low-income communities

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Statement From Say Yes to Education.

Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey, President of Say Yes to Education, released the following statement regarding Governor Paterson’s State of the State address and his recognition of the organization’s latest initiative in Central New York:

“We are encouraged and excited that Governor Paterson recognized the potential of the Syracuse Say Yes to Education demonstration program in his State of the State address today. We are deeply grateful for the Governor’s leadership and support. This unique partnership between Say Yes to Education, Syracuse University, and the Syracuse City School District will offer comprehensive educational support programs, as well as access to college, to thousands of students in Central New York.”

Say Yes to Education, Inc. is a national, non-profit foundation committed to dramatically increasing high school and college graduation rates for urban youth. For over 20 years, Say Yes has provided comprehensive support, including the promise of a full college or vocational education, and a host of other educational, social and health care resources to enable every child in the program to achieve his or her potential.

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State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli Responds to Paterson’s state of the state address:

The Governor’s budget has more than enough pain to go around. No one said this would be easy. When you’re dealing with a $15 billion budget gap, there’s obviously going to be a lot of painful choices.

We heard Governor Paterson’s hopes and aspirations for New York. But we also heard his challenge. That challenge is to all of us in government and to every New Yorker. The challenge is to use this time of crisis as a moment of opportunity to create a better New York at the end of this rough road.

Governor Paterson’s State of the State address is a call to action. Every New Yorker should heed that call.

Click here for a full statement: DiNapoli