News from BALCONY

New York State Labor Chief Is Confirmed to Federal Post

By Steven Greenhouse

The Senate voted 60 to 37 on Thursday to confirm M. Patricia Smith, the New York State labor commissioner, for the Labor Department’s No. 3 post.

The vote came three days after Democrats mustered 60 votes to overcome Republican opposition to Ms. Smith, whom the Republicans accused of making misleading statements in her Congressional testimony.

Ms. Smith will serve as the department’s solicitor, its chief law enforcement official, who traditionally plays a crucial role overseeing wage-and-hour and job safety enforcement.

Ms. Smith is known for vigorous enforcement against minimum-wage and overtime violations in New York, and some Republican senators have voiced concern that she would be hostile to small business.

“She clearly has a deep and passionate commitment to helping American workers,” said Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who leads the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “Her expertise is needed now more than ever, particularly in this economy when American workers are struggling and deserve a strong advocate.”

Republicans protested that the Democrats had rushed Monday’s cloture vote so it would take place before Scott Brown, the newly elected Republican senator from Massachusetts, was sworn in. Mr. Brown took his oath on Thursday.

Ms. Smith’s confirmation had been held up for three months by Senator Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming, the labor committee’s top Republican. Mr. Enzi accused Ms. Smith of misleading the Senate in testifying about a New York program, Wage Watch, in which labor unions and immigrant groups worked with state officials to uncover wage-and-hour violations.

During the confirmation fight, Republicans voiced concern that that program was used to help unions organize workers. Republicans also said Ms. Smith had been untruthful when she testified that she had not held discussions about expanding the Wage Watch program.

Ms. Smith ultimately acknowledged that she had unintentionally misspoken on some matters, saying she had meant to say only that she had not authorized the program’s expansion.

Gov. Paterson authorizes $6M loan to cash-strapped St. Vincent’s Hospital

By Kenneth Lovett
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF

ALBANY – Gov. Paterson has authorized a $6 million loan to St. Vincent’s Hospital to help the cash-strapped hospital make payroll, the Daily News has learned.

  

“This is a dire situation, but I don’t want to see this hospital close unless every available means has been employed,” he said.

Paterson will meet Wednesday with St. Vincent’s management and board, its lenders, and local elected officials to discuss if there are ways the hospital can restructure and move forward.

The hospital is carrying a $700 million debt load and is losing $5 million to $10 million a month, Health Department spokeswoman Claudia Hutton said.

The no-interest $6 million state loan is in addition to $2 million being kicked in by GE Capital to keep the beleaguered hospital going a while longer.

The $6 million will come from a hospital restructuring program that will be jointly administered by the Health Department and the state Dormitory Authority.

“It should last them long enough so they can make a decision about whether to file for bankruptcy,” said one official with knowledge of the situation.

Paterson said he would not have authorized the money if bankruptcy was assured. He said the hospital’s survival is important for area patients.

BALCONY URGES NEW YORK STATE TO SAVE ST. VINCENT’S HOSPITAL

For release Thursday January 28, 2010

“The possible closure of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village will tear a huge hole in New York’s Health Care Safety Net,” charged BALCONY Director Lou Gordon as the Business and Labor Coalition of New York urged the New York State Department of Health to provide immediate assistance to maintain the hospital.

“It makes no sense to close the emergency room of St. Vincent’s Hospital which is the only hospital serving the West Side of Manhattan below 59^th Street. This community is bursting at the seams as thousands of New Yorkers are relocating to the apartments and condos there. New York is building a new subway line on the West Side, we are creating a condomania on 42^nd Street and Chelsea is experiencing an unprecedented boom. St. Vincent’s Hospital is the most valuable health resource in the community. On September 11, 2001, St. Vincent’s played a key role in providing medical services to those at and near Ground Zero. New York State cannot turn its back on the health care needs of the businesses and union workers who rely upon the Hospital as a primary center of medical and emergency services.”

“If Washington can save Wall Street, Albany can save St. Vincent’s Hospital,” stated Gordon.

“I know how vital the St. Vincent’s Hospital services are to the community I once represented as its State Senator” stated Catherine Abate president and CEO of Community Healthcare Networks.

“I urge the state to do everything possible to save St. Vincent’s.”

“Thousands of New York City school students and teachers rely upon this hospital for care. We urge the State Legislature and Department of Health to keep the hospital open and viable,” stated Alan Lubin co- chair of BALCONY. “Closing St. Vincent’s Hospital is Bad Medicine.”

“We urge members of BALCONY to join City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick , Senator Tom Duane, Congressman Jerald Nadler and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in contacting New York State Department of Health Commissioner Richard Daines telling the state to make every effort to Save St. Vincent’s Hospital,” concluded Bruce Ventimiglia, Co-Chair of BALCONY.

BALCONY members are urged to go to Speaker Quinn’s website and join the campaign to Save St. Vincent’s hospital — http://council.nyc.gov/html/action_center/stvincents.shtml

For more information contact BALCONY Director Lou Gordon (212) 219-7777 loug@balconynewyork.com

Click here to read the BALCONY Bulletin (1/28/10)

Statements on the proposed NYS budget

State Budget: Governor’s proposal would hurt kids, taxpayers
NYSUT Media Relations – January 19, 2010

ALBANY, N.Y. January 19, 2010 – New York State United Teachers today said massive cuts proposed for education would force schools to cut teachers and programs, jeopardizing student progress while stalling the state’s ability to create jobs and revitalize the economy.

“How can you race to the top with an education budget that’s laden with red ink?” asked NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. “NYSUT understands the pain that the state’s deep fiscal crisis has inflicted on so many; our members and our professions have been hit hard too. Yet, slashing more than $1.1 billion from public schools and again hacking away at SUNY, CUNY and community colleges totally contradicts the major investment the Obama Administration is seeking for education through Race to the Top.”

Iannuzzi said Gov. David Paterson’s education budget leaves school districts in the unenviable position of either proposing double-digit property tax increases, or eliminating the programs and teachers that New York’s children need. More devastating cuts to SUNY, CUNY and the state’s community colleges, already reeling from years of budgetary ax-swinging, “would slam shut the door to higher education for many of New York’s students, especially the unemployed seeking retraining and preparation for new careers. This derails the state’s efforts to build a knowledge-based, high-tech economy in upstate New York,” he said.

Iannuzzi said NYSUT, along with its higher-ed affiliates, have grave concerns about the impact the proposed Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act impact would have on access to, and quality at, our public university systems.

“The next generation of New York’s workers must come from New York public schools and universities,” Iannuzzi said. “Employers are going to demand it, and state policymakers must ensure that New York’s education system can meet that demand.

“Promising a knowledge economy without an investment in knowledge is a hollow promise,” Iannuzzi said.

NYSUT Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta noted that, historically, the governor’s proposal is the first word in the annual budget battle. “We are confident that legislators from both parties will understand the impact this proposal would have on the ability of schools – both charter and regular public schools- to meet the needs of students, and the property tax increases homeowners would likely face,” Pallotta said. “As always, we will be working with the Legislature and the governor to improve this spending plan to ensure the final budget – the last word – meets the needs of our public schools and colleges.”

NYSUT, the state’s largest union, represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.

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Statement of CSEA President Danny Donohue
on Gov. David Paterson’s proposed state budget.

“Gov. David Paterson’s unwillingness to address the misuse of $62 million in taxpayer money on temporary state workers should be evidence that there are still better budget choices to be made. Hiring and shortchanging temporary workers in dozens of state agencies for years on end is a misguided priority and a violation of the law. Before the governor asks union-represented state employees for concessions he needs to change his own administration’s practices that undermine working people.

CSEA will address these issues and so many others in the course of the weeks ahead with the objective of protecting jobs and services and their impact on the quality of life for New Yorkers.”

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New York State Nurses Association statement: Executive Budget relating to health care

LATHAM, NY – Jan. 19, 2010 – The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) warns that the Governor’s proposed $1 billion in healthcare provider cuts is a number so large that its impact on facilities will be devastating.

Budget information obtained early Tuesday morning outlines nearly $1 billion in reductions to health care and an additional $240.2 million in assessments and surcharges.

Proposed cuts to hospital services, nursing homes, and home care and personal services will leave providers understaffed and put the public at risk. “These cuts, coupled with a lack of state regulation to ensure safe staffing, provide a formula that will negatively impact patient care and compromise patient outcomes for years to come,” said Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, CAE, Nurses Association CEO.

The Nurses Association urges the legislature to put the well-being of New Yorkers first and reject the Governor’s proposed healthcare cuts that impact patient care.

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Nurses Association opposes budget cut to SUNY nursing education LATHAM, Jan. 20, 2010 – The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)
opposes Governor Paterson’s recommended $143,100 cut to funding for expanded SUNY nursing programs.

While the SUNY program is just one part of nursing education, it is integral to the larger effort of meeting the long-term needs of the nursing shortage. “While we applaud the Governor’s extension of funding for the Senator Patricia McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship Program and continued funding of private nursing education, we cannot ignore the need for funding at our SUNY institutions,” said Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, CAE, Nurses Association CEO. “Without sufficient nursing programs, the nursing shortage will worsen and patient care will be severely compromised,” she said.

NYSNA urges the legislature to address the current nursing shortage and reject the Governor’s damaging cuts to SUNY’s nursing education programs.

Contact: Erin Silk, 518.782.9400, ext 224 The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is the state’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

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Albany – The governor’s proposed 2010-11 budget calls for a quarter of a billion dollars in negotiated give-backs from state employees, when the savings could easily be achieved by reducing the state’s reliance on costly private consultants, instead.

The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) applauds the governor for recognizing savings can be achieved by reducing the use of consultants. The governor recently proposed to reduce the use of information technology consultants for an estimated savings of as much as $15 million per year. The governor also identifies a savings in his proposed budget by reducing the state’s use of more costly private contract insurance examiners.

However, the governor’s consultant reduction plan is only the tip of the iceberg and does not go far enough. Our more aggressive proposal to cut the use of consultants across-the-board in state government can easily achieve the quarter of a billion dollars the governor is targeting from the state work force to close the budget gap.

I cannot and will not go to my members and ask them to reopen the contract we negotiated with the state in good faith when many of my members are sitting alongside more costly private contractors doing the same work. However, we are always willing to discuss issues that do not involve reopening our contract.

We await more details on the closures and consolidations the governor is proposing for the Office of Children and Family Services. We will seek to preserve the vital services our members provide to the state’s troubled youths and ensure that troubled and sometimes dangerous youths are not recklessly cast into our communities without adequate support.

PEF has identified significant potential savings for the state, such as the reduction in the use of consultants and reducing workplace injuries and their associated costs and have communicated these proposals to the governor.

PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 59,000 professional, scientific and technical employees.

“HOT CRIPPLE” BY HOGAN GORMAN SET FOR FEBRUARY

I am doing my one woman show “Hot Cripple” again in February… It seems like the perfect time, considering the recent debate over health care in this country… For tickets and information go to http://hotcripple.com .

Tickets are only available online.

Here’s what the critics and others say about the show…

Winner of the “Outstanding Actor Award” @ The New York Fringe Festival Time Out… “(Four stars) Hogan Gorman gives a top-notch performance in this engaging autobiographical one-woman show.”

Salman Rushdie… “Hogan Gorman’s many characters are created with deadly accuracy, her writing is taut and lean, and her satire of the American medical system hits its mark.”

Show Business Weekly… “Hot Cripple successfully combines witty pop culture with the not so trendy tunes of America’s lower class.”

Backstage… “Gorman brings wonderful levity to a very dark yet real story.”

Curtain Up… “Hot Cripple makes its points with pathos and humor.”

Jester Journal… “Tons of self-deprecating and dark humor – a tale that is so well remembered and told that it seems natural on stage.”

I hope to see you there… and please spread the word.

xo

Hogan

http://hotcripple.com