THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2018 10:35 A.M.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE HOUSE WILL COME
TO ORDER.
IN THE ABSENCE OF CLERGY, LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF
SILENCE.
(WHEREUPON, A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.)
VISITORS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE.
(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY LED VISITORS AND
MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)
(APPLAUSE)
A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE
JOURNAL OF WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH.
MR. MORELLE.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. MORELLE: MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO DISPENSE
WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH AND
ASK THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO
ORDERED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: YES. GOOD MORNING, MR. SPEAKER;
GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GUESTS. WE HAVE A FULL AND
ACTIVE DAY TODAY AND IN JUST A MOMENT, I'LL DESCRIBE WHAT OUR DAY WILL
LOOK LIKE, BUT I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT ON THIS DAY IN 1777, THE
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION STATING THAT "THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES BE 13 ALTERNATE STRIPES RED AND WHITE" AND THAT "THE
UNION BE 13 STARS, WHITE IN A BLUE FIELD, REPRESENTING A NEW
CONSTELLATION." THE NATIONAL FLAG BECAME APTLY KNOWN AS THE "STARS
AND STRIPES." AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE AS TODAY IS
CELEBRATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS FLAG DAY.
AND UNDER THE HEADING OF, "DID YOU KNOW," DID YOU
KNOW THAT THE TOWN OF RYE, NEW YORK, REPRESENTED BY OUR FRIEND WHO
REPRESENTS THE 91ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, MR. OTIS, WHO IS MAKING HIS
WAY IN THE CHAMBERS AS I SPEAK, BUT THAT THE TOWN OF RYE, NEW YORK
WAS ONCE PART OF CONNECTICUT? BOTH NEW YORK AND CONNECTICUT BACK
IN THE 17TH CENTURY CLAIMED RYE AS WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES UNTIL 1683
WHICH, YES, IS THE 17TH CENTURY, WHEN CONNECTICUT DECIDED TO FORMALLY
CEDE THE AREA TO NEW YORK. AND WE ARE BLESSED THAT THAT HAPPENED,
OTHERWISE MR. OTIS WOULD BE IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT THIS MORNING
2
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
INSTEAD OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.
SO, WITH THAT HISTORICAL NOTE, LET ME JUST DESCRIBE A
LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WE WILL MAKE TODAY, AS WELL. MEMBERS HAVE ON
THEIR DESKS A MAIN CALENDAR, AS WELL AS A DEBATE LIST. AFTER ANY
INTRODUCTIONS AND HOUSEKEEPING, AND I NOTE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
INTRODUCTIONS AND MEMBERS OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILY HERE, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO CONSENT WHERE WE LEFT OFF ON THE MAIN CALENDAR YESTERDAY.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH RULES REPORT NO. 143 WHICH MEMBERS WILL FIND ON
PAGE 11 OF THE MAIN CALENDAR. WE WILL ALSO, DURING THE DAY, WORK OFF
THE DEBATE LIST. MEMBERS, IF YOU'RE ON THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES,
PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE DESK FOR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS: THE COMMITTEE ON CODES, WAYS AND MEANS
AND RULES. I NOTE THESE COMMITTEES WILL PRODUCE AN A-CALENDAR
WHICH WE MAY TAKE UP THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON, AS WELL.
BEFORE I ASK FOR ANY INTRODUCTIONS AND HOUSEKEEPING,
MR. SPEAKER, LET ME NOTE, AGAIN, AS I HAVE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS,
WE ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO, THE SPEED WITH
WHICH WE CAN MOVE AND GET EVERYONE'S WORK CONCLUDED WILL DEPEND IN
PART ON HOW MUCH MEMBERS STAY IN OR AROUND THE CHAMBERS AND WE
CAN ACCESS THEM FOR VOTES AND CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR SESSION FORWARD.
SO, I DO WANT TO THANK PEOPLE IN ADVANCE FOR THEIR COOPERATION AND
THEIR PATIENCE AS WE WORK THROUGH OUR FINAL DAYS, AND HOPE TODAY WILL
BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL DAY IN THAT REGARD.
WITH THAT SAID, MR. SPEAKER, I NOTE WE HAVE
INTRODUCTIONS. IF WE HAVE HOUSEKEEPING, AS WELL, THIS WOULD BE THE
3
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
APPROPRIATE TIME TO TAKE THOSE UP.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. FIRST,
INTRODUCTIONS.
MR. GOODELL FOR THE PURPOSES OF A (SIC) INTRODUCTION.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS FOR A SPECIAL
INTRODUCTION. TODAY, WE HAVE WITH US A VERY SPECIAL GUEST. HE USED TO
BE THE FLOOR LEADER FOR THE REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY. I THINK ALL OF US
WOULD BE DELIGHTED IF YOU WERE STILL THE FLOOR LEADER, MYSELF INCLUDED.
(APPLAUSE)
AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK THIS FAST FOR A VERY LIMITED TIME,
BUT IF YOU WOULD PLEASE EXTEND THE GREETINGS TO OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, A
GREAT ASSEMBLYMAN, TOM MCKEVITT.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF
OF MR. GOODELL, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, TOM, WE WELCOME
YOU BACK TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU, AS
ALWAYS PART OF THE FAMILY, THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND THE APPLAUSE
THAT YOU GOT IS IN NO SMALL MEASURE TO THE JOY WE HAVE BECAUSE YOU
HAVE JOINED US, AND THE FACT THAT MR. GOODELL HAS SHOWN US HOW GREAT
YOU REALLY WERE.
(LAUGHTER)
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE -- WE HOPE YOU
WILL COME BACK AND VISIT US OFTEN. THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
4
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: YES, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I
DON'T WANT TO VIOLATE THE ASSEMBLY RULES BY HELPING TO ADD TO AN
INTRODUCTION, BUT I'M ALSO DELIGHTED TO SEE MY DEAR FRIEND WHO I HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH WHEN HE WAS IN MR. GOODELL'S SEAT. SO,
WELCOME BACK, TOM.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FAMILY
MEMBERS HERE TODAY. IT ALWAYS, I THINK, BEARS REPEATING THAT WHEN
YOU'RE A MEMBER HERE, YOUR FAMILY IS PART OF OUR FAMILY AND WE'RE
DELIGHTED TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THAT FAMILY HERE TODAY. THEY ARE NOT
STRANGERS TO THIS CHAMBER. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE THE CRESPO FAMILY
HERE. HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, VERNA, AND HIS TWO ADORABLE CHILDREN, RAQUEL
AND GRACIELA, RAQUEL BEING FIVE YEARS OLD, GRACIELA IS FOUR. I THINK
WHEN THEY STARTED COMING HERE THEY WERE LITERALLY BABIES AND THEY ARE
BEAUTIFUL, SUCH A WONDERFUL FAMILY AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE THE BETTER
PARTS OF THE FAMILY. WE'RE STUCK WITH MR. CRESPO, BUT THOSE TWO
BEAUTIFUL FACES, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO ALWAYS HAVE THEM IN THE CHAMBER
TO VISIT WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND TO WATCH THEM GROW INTO HEALTHY YOUNG,
YOUNG FAMILY. SO, PLEASE EXTEND ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO
OUR FRIENDS, THE CRESPO FAMILY.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF
OF MR. MORELLE, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THE
CRESPO FAMILY HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE
MEMORIES OF YOU BEFORE YOU HAVE MEMORIES, AND SO WE'RE JUST SO
5
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
PLEASED THAT YOU'RE HERE. WHAT A GORGEOUS FAMILY. CONTINUE TO BE
SUPPORTIVE AND KEEP HIM SHINING AND BRIGHT, AND I KNOW YOU DO THAT.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
MR. ASHBY FOR AN INTRODUCTION.
MR. ASHBY: MR. SPEAKER, THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO
INTRODUCE STUDENTS FROM MY DISTRICT FROM THE SCHOOL OF CHATHAM.
PARENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE ACCOMPANIED THEM HERE, AND I THINK WE
WERE ALL GRATEFUL FOR THEIR HELP ON THE PLEDGE THIS MORNING. AND I
KNOW THAT THEY'RE ANXIOUS TO GET ON WITH THEIR TOUR AND LEARN AND HELP
US REMEMBER FLAG DAY TODAY, AS WELL. SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE EXTEND
TO THEM THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF
OF MR. ASHBY, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THIS
TREMENDOUS CLASS OF STUDENTS AND THEIR ADVISORS AND PARENTS HERE TO THE
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING THIS MORNING WITH US. IT
DOES ENHANCE THIS CHAMBER WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HERE WATCHING AND
BEING A PART OF OUR PROCEEDINGS, AND YOUR VOICES ARE ALWAYS SO STRONG
AND INSPIRING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONTINUE YOUR GREAT EDUCATION.
THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: YES, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I AM
ALSO PRIVILEGED TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER DEAR COLLEAGUE'S FAMILY WHO HAVE
6
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
VENTURED UP TO ALBANY TODAY TO OBSERVE OUR PROCEEDINGS. MS.
HYNDMAN'S FAMILY HAS JOINED US AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THEM.
FIRST OF ALL, HER YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, NYLA, WHO IS ABOUT TO LEAVE SECOND
GRADE AND MOVE TO THIRD. SHE'S ALSO JOINED BY HER NIECE, KEIRA, AND HER
MOM AND DAD. AND I DO NOTE THAT STANLEY AND YVONNE HYNDMAN ARE
HERE TO VISIT WITH US AND I HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING AND ASKING MS.
HYNDMAN TO BRING HER MOM BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME AT THE
CAUCUS MEETING EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND SHE FINALLY BROKE DOWN AND
BROUGHT HER UP SO I COULD VISIT WITH HER, BUT I'M SO EXCITED THAT THEY'RE
IN THE CHAMBER. AND AS -- AS I INDICATED, WE'RE ALWAYS SO HAPPY WHEN
MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILIES COME UP AND SPEND TIME WITH US AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EXTEND ALL THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO MS.
HYNDMAN'S BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF
OF MR. MORELLE, THE SPEAKER, ALL THE MEMBERS FROM QUEENS, ALL OF OUR
MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THE HYNDMAN FAMILY HERE TO THE NEW YORK
STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. AS
FAMILY, WE ARE ALWAYS DELIGHTED THAT YOU GET TO SHARE WITH US IN HER
EXTENDED FAMILY, BECAUSE WE ARE FAMILY HERE, AND COME TO THE -- AND
WATCH THESE PROCEEDINGS AND WATCH HER AS SHE DOES WHAT HAS BEEN --
SHE HAS BEEN ELECTED TO DO, WHICH IS REPRESENT HER DISTRICT. THANK YOU
SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDE.
(APPLAUSE)
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE
7
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
TO BEGIN WITH RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3 OF THE MAIN CALENDAR, BEGINNING
WITH ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1370 BY MRS. GUNTHER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1370, RULES
AT THE REQUEST OF MRS. GUNTHER. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 11-15, 2018 AS
MENINGITIS B AWARENESS WEEK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1371, RULES
AT THE REQUEST OF MS. LUPARDO. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 15, 2018 AS ELDER
ABUSE AWARENESS DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1372, RULES
AT THE REQUEST OF MR. RA. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE -- JULY 15, 2018 AS PET
FIRE SAFETY DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 7 -- 1373,
RULES AT THE REQUEST OF MS. MALLIOTAKIS. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
8
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 21,
2018 AS YOGA DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1374, RULES
AT THE REQUEST OF MR. DENDEKKER. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 2018 AS
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH, AND JUNE 27, 2018 AS
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1375, RULES
AT THE REQUEST OF MR. MURRAY. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 30, 2018 AS
ARTHROGRYPOSIS AWARENESS DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
WE DO HAVE HOUSEKEEPING THIS MORNING.
ON A MOTION BY MR. MOSLEY, PAGE 8, RULES REPORT
NO. 71, BILL NO. 10829-A, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
9
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
ON A MOTION BY MRS. BARRETT, PAGE 11, RULES REPORT
NO. 131, BILL NO. 10836-A, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE
TO BEGIN CONSENTING ON PAGE 11 OF THE MAIN CALENDAR, STARTING WITH
RULES REPORT NO. 143 BY MS. ROSENTHAL.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00558-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 143, L. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, M. G. MILLER, MOSLEY, COOK,
HOOPER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE REAL PROPERTY LAW, IN RELATION TO
NON-PREFERENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR USE OF AMENITIES IN CERTAIN BUILDINGS
AND APARTMENTS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01093, RULES REPORT
NO. 144, DINOWITZ, GOTTFRIED, L. ROSENTHAL, MOSLEY, PICHARDO, COOK,
CRESPO, BENEDETTO, DAVILA, BICHOTTE, JOYNER, WALKER, RODRIGUEZ,
BLAKE, BARRON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY
OF NEW YORK, IN RELATION TO SURCHARGES FOR THE INSTALLATION OR USE OF
CERTAIN APPLIANCES IN HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS SUBJECT TO RENT CONTROL.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01568, RULES REPORT
NO. 145, SKOUFIS, TITONE, CUSICK, MORELLE, CYMBROWITZ, COLTON,
NOLAN, SOLAGES, SANTABARBARA, PERRY, RAMOS, LUPARDO, ARROYO,
HOOPER, STIRPE, STECK, OTIS, MALLIOTAKIS, WEINSTEIN. AN ACT TO AMEND
THE INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO STANDARDS FOR PROMPT INVESTIGATION
10
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
AND SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS ARISING FROM STATES OF EMERGENCY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02333, RULES REPORT
NO. 146, THIELE, OTIS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION LAW, IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING THE USE OF
PENTACHLOROPHENOL WITH REGARD TO NEW OR EXISTING TRANSMISSION UTILITY
POLES OR FACILITIES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02874-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 147, GALEF, STEC, MCDONALD, ABINANTI, MAGNARELLI,
SEAWRIGHT, RIVERA, HYNDMAN, WILLIAMS, D'URSO, HOOPER, COOK,
STIRPE, ERRIGO, BLAKE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW
AND THE REAL PROPERTY LAW, IN RELATION TO THE TAXATION OF PROPERTY
OWNED BY A COOPERATIVE CORPORATION.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02923-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 148, PERRY, SKOUFIS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE VEHICLE AND
TRAFFIC LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING A DISTINCTIVE "JAMAICAN
BOBSLED TEAM" NUMBER PLATE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
PERRY, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
11
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M
DELIGHTED TO NOTE THAT THE JAMAICAN BOBSLED TEAM DISTINCTIVE PLATES
REPRESENTS OUR FIRST VOTE OF THE DAY, AND I'M SURE NO ONE WANTS TO MISS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAST THEIR VOTE ON THIS, SO I'D REMIND ANY MEMBER
WHOSE NOT IN THE CHAMBERS TO MAKE THEIR WAY. THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
WITH US, PLEASE CAST YOUR FIRST VOTE OF THE DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: FIRST VOTE OF THE DAY,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IF YOU ARE IN YOUR SEATS, PLEASE VOTE NOW. IF
YOU ARE IN THE SOUND OF OUR VOICE, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE CHAMBER AND
CAST YOUR BALLOT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02954-B, RULES
REPORT NO. 149, MCDONALD, BLAKE, MORINELLO, BRABENEC, M. G.
MILLER, ORTIZ. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW, IN RELATION
TO AUTHORIZING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO PAY THE SALARIES AND
COMPENSATION OF SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
12
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MR. MONTESANO TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.
MR. MONTESANO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU
KNOW, I -- I LOOKED AT THIS BILL AND -- AND THE ISSUES SURROUNDING IT.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY PAYS IN THEIR TAXES A PORTION TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENTS THAT COVER THEIR AREA THAT PROVIDE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS,
ESPECIALLY HOME DOWN (SIC) IN NASSAU COUNTY - I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE
OTHER COUNTIES - WE PAY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TAX TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS, WHICH THEY DO. IN ORDER
TO NOW HAVE TO HAVE SCHOOLS, EVEN IF THEY CHOOSE TO OR NOT CHOOSE TO,
PUT THEM IN THE SPOT TO HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL CROSSING
GUARDS, AS FAR AS THEIR SALARY AND BENEFITS I THINK PUTS THEM IN AN
AWKWARD POSITION. IT'S AN OBLIGATION OF THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE THESE SAFETY MEASURES TO THE SCHOOLS AT THEIR
CROSSINGS. SO, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S A NECESSARY BURDEN THAT WE SHIFT TO
THE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A COST-SAVINGS TO ANYONE. SO,
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, I'LL BE VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. MONTESANO IN THE
NEGATIVE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03545-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 151, PERRY. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW,
13
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING THE CHANCE TO HELP NOTIFICATION ACT.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03830-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 152, L. ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE COOPERATIVE
CORPORATIONS LAW AND THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW, IN RELATION
TO REQUIRING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF RESIDENTIAL COOPERATIVE
CORPORATIONS AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS TO PROVIDE TENANTS WITH
CHANGES TO THE BY-LAWS IN WRITING WITHIN 10 DAYS OF ADOPTION; IN
RELATION TO NOTIFICATION TO TENANTS OF CHANGES AFFECTING OCCUPANCY OR
THE RULES OF THE BUILDING.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05106, RULES REPORT
NO. 153, CRESPO, RAMOS, PICHARDO, RODRIGUEZ, RIVERA, ARROYO,
MCDONOUGH, HOOPER, RAIA, MURRAY, SIMON, KIM, MONTESANO,
MOSLEY, DICKENS, COLTON, WEPRIN, COOK, BARRON, DAVILA, WALLACE. AN
ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW AND THE BANKING LAW, IN
RELATION TO PROHIBITING A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY OR LENDER FROM
USING CERTAIN INFORMATION TO DETERMINE AN INDIVIDUAL'S CREDIT
WORTHINESS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
14
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05270-C, RULES
REPORT NO. 154, MORELLE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW,
IN RELATION TO CERTAIN RENTAL VEHICLE PROTECTIONS; TO AMEND CHAPTER 656
OF THE LAWS OF 2002 AMENDING THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW RELATING TO
RENTAL VEHICLE PROTECTIONS, IN RELATION TO MAKING SUCH PROVISIONS
PERMANENT; TO AMEND A CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF 2018, AMENDING
CHAPTER 656 OF THE LAWS OF 2002 AMENDING THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW
RELATING TO RENTAL VEHICLE PROTECTIONS, AS PROPOSED IN LEGISLATIVE BILLS
NUMBERS S. 8317 AND A. 11097, IN RELATION TO MAKING SUCH PROVISIONS
PERMANENT; AND PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS UPON
EXPIRATION THEREOF.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
MORELLE, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: BILL NO. A05826-A, RULES REPORT NO.
155, JAFFEE, ENGLEBRIGHT, L. ROSENTHAL, TITONE, SIMON, DAVILA, ORTIZ,
15
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
WEPRIN, STECK, COOK, D'URSO, CRESPO, MOSLEY, DE LA ROSA, GOTTFRIED,
FAHY, SEAWRIGHT. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PENAL LAW, IN RELATION TO
REQUIRING SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOLS MANUFACTURED OR DELIVERED TO ANY
LICENSED DEALER IN THIS STATE TO BE CAPABLE OF MICROSTAMPING
AMMUNITION.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06868-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 157, DICKENS, ORTIZ. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PARKS,
RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION LAW, IN RELATION TO PROVIDING FOR
THE PEOPLE'S HISTORY PROJECT.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 120TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07237-B, RULES
REPORT NO. 158, CUSICK, PICHARDO, ABINANTI, FAHY. AN ACT TO AMEND
THE EDUCATION LAW, IN RELATION TO PERMITTING CERTAIN PHYSICIANS TO
PRACTICE MEDICINE IN NEW YORK STATE IF THEY ARE LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN
ANOTHER STATE OR TERRITORY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
16
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
CUSICK, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07501-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 159, ABBATE, HOOPER. AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE PORT
AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY TO OFFER A CERTAIN RETIREMENT
OPTION TO PORT AUTHORITY POLICE OFFICERS EDDY STELTER, SCARLET M.
COOPER, WILLIAM A. MUDRY, JOHN F. FITZPATRICK, AND HUGH A. JOHNSON.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
ABBATE, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
17
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07689-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 160, L. ROSENTHAL, D'URSO, THIELE, SKOUFIS, CUSICK,
JOYNER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, IN RELATION TO
PROHIBITED PRACTICES BY PROVIDERS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08205-B, RULES
REPORT NO. 161, MCDONALD, JENNE, LUPARDO, CRESPO, D'URSO,
MONTESANO, RAIA, CROUCH, WOERNER, STECK, JONES. AN ACT TO AMEND
THE EXECUTIVE LAW, IN RELATION TO REGULATORY FINES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08375-A, RULES
18
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
REPORT NO. 162, ABBATE, PALUMBO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE RETIREMENT
AND SOCIAL SECURITY LAW, IN RELATION TO THE CERTIFICATION OF A DEPUTY
SHERIFF AS A POLICE OFFICER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
(PAUSE)
ON A MOTION BY MR. ABBATE, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE
THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MR. -- MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR
ALLOWING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION SO WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE SEVERAL DOZEN
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOINED US IN THE BACK OF THE CHAMBER AS
GUESTS OF MR. BRINDISI AND MR. MILLER. THEY ARE FROM ONEIDA COUNTY,
AND THEY ARE SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS AT THE ER HUGHES ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, WHICH IS IN THE NEW HARTFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND AS A
FORMER UTICAN BY BIRTH, I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE FRIENDS FROM ONEIDA
COUNTY, BUT WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE
CHAMBER. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THEIR
TEACHERS HERE: MR. MARTIN, MRS. ROBERTS, MRS. FORNINO AND MS.
19
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
ANGEL. AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE ALSO TWO OTHER
MEMBERS OF THIS DELEGATION THAT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE. FIRST OF ALL,
MR. BRINDISI'S SISTER, EVA PEARLMAN, WHO IS A CHAPERONE AND A PARENT,
AS WELL AS HIS NEPHEW, JEREMY PEARLMAN. AND WE'RE ALWAYS,
OBVIOUSLY, DELIGHTED TO HAVE ALL OF THEM IN THE CHAMBER, AND
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY HERE. I
HOPE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ENJOY THEIR TIME WITH US AND OBSERVE THE
PROCEEDINGS AND GO HOME AND TELL THEIR FRIENDS HOW MUCH THEY LEARNED
WHEN THEY WERE IN THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. IF YOU'D PLEASE
EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF
OF MR. BRINDISI, MR. BRIAN MILLER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS,
WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO
YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. YOU'RE A FINE GROUP OF LOOKING SIXTH
GRADERS. WE THANK YOU FOR VISITING WITH US AND YOUR TEACHERS AND
SUPERVISORS WHO HAVE COME WITH YOU. CONTINUE TO PURSUE YOUR
EDUCATION. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT SUMMER AND WILL DO EXCELLENT IN
THE NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND TO THE
BRINDISI FAMILY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR -- YOUR
RELATIVE WITH US. HE IS A TREASURE HERE IN THE NEW YORK STATE
ASSEMBLY AND WE ARE ALWAYS PLEASED TO HAVE HIS FAMILY HERE WITH US.
THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08393-A, RULES
20
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
REPORT NO. 163, L. ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ELECTION LAW, IN
RELATION TO VOTER NOTIFICATION OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: YES, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D
LIKE TO TAKE UP, OFF THE DEBATE LIST, CALENDAR NO. 946 BY MR. GOTTFRIED,
WHICH IS ON PAGE 97 OF THE MAIN CALENDAR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04738-A, CALENDAR
NO. 946, GOTTFRIED, ABINANTI, BARRON, BENEDETTO, BICHOTTE, BLAKE,
BRONSON, CARROLL, COLTON, COOK, CRESPO, CYMBROWITZ, DILAN,
DINOWITZ, ENGLEBRIGHT, GANTT, HIKIND, HUNTER, HYNDMAN, JAFFEE,
JENNE, JOYNER, KIM, LAVINE, LIFTON, LUPARDO, M. G. MILLER, MOSLEY,
PAULIN, PEOPLES-STOKES, PERRY, PICHARDO, RAMOS, RICHARDSON, RIVERA,
RODRIGUEZ, L. ROSENTHAL, SEAWRIGHT, SIMOTAS, STECK, STIRPE, THIELE,
TITONE, TITUS, WALKER, WEINSTEIN, WEPRIN, DE LA ROSA, D'URSO,
JEAN-PIERRE, WRIGHT, WILLIAMS, VANEL, SOLAGES, WALLACE, BARRETT,
PHEFFER AMATO, NIOU, ORTIZ, DICKENS, TAYLOR, PELLEGRINO, EPSTEIN,
21
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
SIMON, FERNANDEZ, ESPINAL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW
AND THE STATE FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO ENACTING THE "NEW YORK
HEALTH ACT" AND TO ESTABLISHING NEW YORK HEALTH.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: AN EXPLANATION HAS
BEEN REQUESTED, MR. GOTTFRIED, BUT BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO DO THAT, WHY
DON'T WE GET A LITTLE ORDER IN THE HOUSE. WE ARE ON DEBATE, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN. THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED QUIET. IF YOU HAVE
CONVERSATIONS, PLEASE TAKE THEM OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE. MEMBERS
SHOULD BE IN THEIR SEATS. MEMBERS SHOULD BE IN THEIR SEATS, OR IF YOU
NEED TO CONFER, PLEASE TAKE IT OUTSIDE THE BAR OF THE ASSEMBLY.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE. YOU CAN MAKE THIS A LONG DAY,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU DON'T COOPERATE. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO
BE HERE 'TIL MIDNIGHT.
(PAUSE)
PROCEED, MR. GOTTFRIED.
MR. GOTTFRIED: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU
KNOW, I START WITH A BASIC PRINCIPLE THAT NO NEW YORKER SHOULD HAVE TO
GO WITHOUT HEALTH CARE OR SUFFER FINANCIALLY TO GET IT. THAT'S NOT,
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE MOST
PRACTICAL AND THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT, AND I WOULD
SAY THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT IS BY TAKING INSURANCE COMPANIES OUT
OF THE PICTURE AND ENACTING WHAT YOU COULD CALL IMPROVED MEDICARE FOR
ALL, SINGLE-PAYER, WHAT HAVE YOU. YOU KNOW, WASHINGTON IS NOT ABOUT
TO DO THAT, BUT NEW YORK STATE CAN.
ALMOST EVERY PROBLEM THAT WE FACE IN HEALTH AND
22
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
HEALTH CARE, WHETHER AS PATIENTS OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OR EMPLOYERS
OR TAXPAYERS IS MADE WORSE AND HARDER TO SOLVE BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE
ORGANIZE AND PAY FOR HEALTH CARE. IT KEEPS US FROM TAKING CONTROL OF
OUR HEALTH CARE. IT KEEPS FROM TAKING REAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR HEALTH
CARE. NOW, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, BUT
ITS FUNDAMENTAL FLAW IS THAT IT LEAVES US IN THE HANDS OF INSURANCE
COMPANIES. AND THAT MEANS EVER-RISING PREMIUMS, MORE AND MORE
HEALTH PLANS WITH EVER-RISING DEDUCTIBLES AND CO-PAYS, AND MORE AND
MORE RESTRICTED PROVIDER NETWORKS AND HIGHER AND HIGHER
OUT-OF-NETWORK CHARGES, COSTS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT ANY REGARD
FOR ABILITY TO PAY AND COSTS THAT ARE REAL OBSTACLES TO CARE AND TO FAMILY
FINANCIAL STABILITY.
IN A GIVEN YEAR, A-THIRD OF HOUSEHOLDS, A-THIRD OF
HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE REPORT HAVING AT LEAST ONE
FAMILY MEMBER WHO WENT WITHOUT HEALTH CARE THAT YEAR BECAUSE OF COST
AND, IN MOST CASES, IT WAS FOR A SERIOUS CONDITION. THE NEW YORK
STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, IN THEIR ANALYSIS OF WHO
TAKES THE -- THE MEDICAL COST DEDUCTION ON THEIR TAXES FOUND THAT
140,000 NEW YORK TAXPAYERS, 140,000 NEW YORK TAXPAYERS SPENT
MORE THAN HALF THEIR INCOME IN ONE YEAR ON MEDICAL EXPENSES, AND
96,000 NEW YORKERS SPENT MORE THAN 100 PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME ON
HEALTH CARE. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND WE HAVE A SOCIETY WHERE
MORE AND MORE EMPLOYERS, WHICH IS WHERE MOST OF US GET OUR HEALTH
COVERAGE, ARE EITHER SHIFTING MORE AND MORE OF THE COST OF THAT
COVERAGE TO THE WORKERS WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT, OR DROPPING IT ENTIRELY.
23
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
IT IS A SYSTEM WITH BUILT-IN ENORMOUS WASTEFUL COSTS.
INSURANCE COMPANIES SPEND 15 PERCENT OR MORE OF EVERY PREMIUM
DOLLAR ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND MARKETING AND PROFIT, ALL COSTS THAT
DO NOTHING TO MAKE ANYBODY HEALTHIER. HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, DOCTORS,
HOSPITALS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS SPEND FIVE TIMES WHAT THEIR COUNTERPARTS
IN CANADA DO ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TO FIGHT WITH INSURANCE
COMPANIES, AND IT'S ABOUT 20 TO 25 PERCENT OF THE HEALTH CARE DOLLAR.
NEW YORK CAN AND MUST DO BETTER, AND THAT'S WHAT THE
NEW YORK HEALTH ACT IS ALL ABOUT. IT WOULD PROVIDE UNIVERSAL
COMPLETE HEALTH COVERAGE TO EVERY NEW YORKER, ALL 20 MILLION OF US.
IT WOULD GUARANTEE COMPLETE CHOICE OF DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL AND OTHER
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. THERE WOULD BE NO RESTRICTED PROVIDER NETWORK
AND, THEREFORE, NO OUT-OF-NETWORK CHARGES. THERE WOULD BE NO
PREMIUM, DEDUCTIBLE OR CO-PAYS; INSTEAD, THE SYSTEM WOULD BE FUNDED
BY BROAD-BASED TAXES BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY. IT MEANS WE WOULD BE
ENDING THE REGRESSIVE TAX THAT WE NOW PAY TO INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT
IS BOTH REGRESSIVE, NOT BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY, AND DRAMATICALLY HIGHER
THAN IT NEEDS TO BE. NEW YORKERS WOULD BE SPENDING ON THE WHOLE
$45 BILLION LESS ON HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH COVERAGE THAN WE DO TODAY.
AND, AS I SAID, IT WOULD BE FUNDED FAIRLY THROUGH A BROAD-BASED TAX,
PROGRESSIVELY GRADUATED SO THE HIGHER PARTS OF YOUR SALARY OR YOUR
INCOME WOULD BE TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE LOWER PART OF YOUR
SALARY OR INCOME, AND IT WOULD BE A TAX APPLIED BOTH TO PAYROLL INCOME
AND TO CURRENTLY TAXABLE NON-PAYROLL INCOME LIKE DIVIDENDS AND -- AND
CAPITAL GAINS. NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS WOULD BE SPENDING
24
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
LESS THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
HOW DOES THIS ARITHMETIC WORK? FIRST OF ALL, WE TAKE
ABOUT $71 BILLION IN SAVINGS FOR INSURANCE COMPANY COSTS THAT WE
WOULD BE AVOIDING, PROVIDER COSTS THAT WE WOULD BE AVOIDING, HAVING
MORE POWER TO NEGOTIATE PRICES DOWN WITH DRUG COMPANIES. THERE
WOULD BE SOME INCREASED COSTS, ABOUT $26 BILLION --
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RAIA, WHY DO
YOU RAISE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: I WILL NOT YIELD TO A QUESTION AT
THIS TIME, I WILL YIELD AT THE END.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. -- YOU HAVE
EXPIRED THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE FOR EXPLAINING A VOTE -- OF EXPLAINING
THE BILL. WE DO HAVE A TIME FOR THAT.
MR. GOTTFRIED: EXCUSE ME?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: IF YOU WOULD WRAP
UP. I SAID THE TIME THAT ALLOWED TO EXPLAIN A VOTE HAS EXPIRED.
MR. GOTTFRIED: OKAY. THEN I WILL SIT DOWN AND
BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO QUESTIONS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. RAIA.
MR. RAIA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M STARTING
MY CLOCK NOW. WILL MR. -- CHAIRMAN GOTTFRIED YIELD FOR MANY
QUESTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOTTFRIED, WILL
YOU YIELD?
25
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MR. RAIA: GOOD MORNING, RICHARD. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WE'VE BEEN AT THIS MANY TIMES OVER SO I'M JUST GOING TO
JUMP RIGHT IN. YOU DESCRIBED WHAT OBVIOUSLY SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT
PANACEA. CAN YOU TELL ME WHO IS PROVIDING ALL THE NUMBERS THAT YOUR
LEGISLATION IS BASED UPON? IS THERE ONE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, A
PROFESSOR, I GUESS GERALD BENJAMIN -- NOT GERALD BENJAMIN, EXCUSE
ME; GERALD FRIEDMAN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS. HE'S
REALLY THE SOLE SOURCE OF WHERE YOU'RE GETTING ALL YOUR PROJECTIONS
FROM, CORRECT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: NO.
MR. RAIA: OH, OKAY.
MR. GOTTFRIED: THE CALCULATIONS ARE BASED -- I
MEAN, HE PULLED A LOT OF NUMBERS -- GERRY FRIEDMAN WHO IS THE CHAIR
OF THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
AMHERST WHO HAS STUDIED THIS ISSUE VERY EXTENSIVELY, PULLED TOGETHER A
LOT OF NUMBERS FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SOURCES, WELL-DOCUMENTED
STATISTICS. WE'VE LOOKED, THOUGH, AT THOSE STATISTICS DIRECTLY ON OUR
OWN, NOT JUST RELYING ON -- ON HIS REPORT. THERE HAVE BEEN A VARIETY OF
ANALYSES BY DIFFERENT CONSULTING FIRMS OVER THE YEARS OF SINGLE-PAYER
PROPOSALS IN VARIOUS STATES AND, BY AND LARGE, THEY ALL SHOW SUBSTANTIAL
SAVINGS. SOME SHOW THAT A PLAN WOULD BREAK EVEN. THEY ALL SHOW THAT
THERE IS NO WAY TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL COVERAGE THAT IS -- THAT IS
ANYWHERE NEAR AS COST-EFFECTIVE AS A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM.
26
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. RAIA: WELL, OBVIOUSLY THE ECONOMIST THAT
YOU'RE RELYING ON FOR MANY OF YOUR ESTIMATES HAS RECEIVED QUITE A BIT OF
CRITICISM FROM HIS PEERS. I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THE LETTER FROM THE PAST
FOUR CHAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS TO PRESIDENTS
CLINTON AND OBAMA. THEY CALL FRIEDMAN'S CLAIMS ABOUT SINGLE-PAYER,
QUOTE/UNQUOTE "EXTREME" AND NOTE THAT QUOTE/UNQUOTE "NO CREDIBLE
ECONOMIC EVIDENCE SUPPORTS HIS CLAIMS."
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL --
MR. RAIA: IN FACT, NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING ECONOMIST
PAUL KRUGMAN CALLED FRIEDMAN'S ANALYTICAL SKILLS QUOTE/UNQUOTE
"HORRIFYING" AND STATES THAT QUOTE/UNQUOTE "GOOD IDEAS DON'T NEED TO BE
SOLD WITH FAIRY DUST."
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, SOME OF THAT
CRITICISM WAS RAISED IN THE CONTEXT OF ECONOMISTS WHO WERE CLOSELY
TIED TO THE OBAMA HEALTH PLAN AND TO HILLARY CLINTON WHO WERE
ATTACKING FRIEDMAN BECAUSE HE WAS DEFENDING NOT THIS BILL, BUT BERNIE
SANDERS' PROPOSAL. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. AND, NUMBER TWO, THE BULK OF
THE ATTACKS ON FRIEDMAN IN THAT CONTEXT WERE DIRECTED AT HIS ESTIMATES
OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE FINANCING
OF THE SANDERS PLAN. NONE OF THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE NEW
YORK HEALTH ACT NUMBERS. WE DON'T GET TO DISCUSSING ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND, AGAIN, THE NUMBERS THAT ARE IN FRIEDMAN'S REPORT ARE NOT
HIS NUMBERS, THEY ARE -- THEY ARE NUMBERS FROM A VARIETY OF UNDISPUTED
SOURCES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE FACT THAT -- THAT MEDICARE, TRADITIONAL
27
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MEDICARE RUNS ON ABOUT A 2 PERCENT ADMINISTRATIVE COST AND THAT
INSURANCE COMPANIES SPEND 15 TO 20 PERCENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN
MARKETING AND PROFIT. THOSE BASIC NUMBERS ARE ABSOLUTELY SOUND AND
IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO DISCUSSING SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
CRITICIZED SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS, I'D BE HAPPY TO.
MR. RAIA: WE CAN DO THAT AT ANOTHER TIME.
MR. GOTTFRIED: BUT THAT'S THE CORE QUESTION AND I
DON'T KNOW -- I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EFFECTIVE REFUTATION OF THOSE NUMBERS.
MR. RAIA: WELL, EVEN MR. FRIEDMAN IS QUOTED AS
SAYING HE HAS A UNIQUE WAY OR A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD,
RIGHT? THAT WAS QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, WE ALL HAVE A UNIQUE WAY
OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE NUMBERS ABOUT
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND THE SAVINGS AND THE INCREASED CARE,
INCREASED UTILIZATION AND THE LIKE, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THOSE
NUMBERS ARE SOUND. WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING GERRY FRIEDMAN'S OUTLOOK ON
LIFE, WE'RE DISCUSSING THE NUMBERS. AND IF UNDER THE LAW INSURANCE
COMPANIES ARE ENTITLED TO CHARGE 15 TO 20 PERCENT OF THE PREMIUM TO
BE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND MARKETING AND -- AND -- AND PROFIT,
HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH HEALTH CARE, SINCE EVERY INSURANCE COMPANY
USES UP THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT, NO ONE'S EVER HEARD OF AN INSURANCE
COMPANY THAT DIDN'T, CERTAINLY NOT IN THIS STATE. THOSE NUMBERS ARE
SOUND.
MR. RAIA: I BELIEVE -- WHAT'S -- THE TOTAL COST OF THIS
IS WHAT, $255 BILLION?
28
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. GOTTFRIED: NO. WE CURRENTLY SPEND ABOUT
$280 BILLION OR WILL NEXT YEAR, ABOUT $280 BILLION ON HEALTH CARE IN
NEW YORK, FROM ALL SOURCES. UNDER THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, THAT
NUMBER WOULD BE TAKEN DOWN DRAMATICALLY FOR NET SAVINGS OF $45
BILLION.
MR. RAIA: YEAH, BUT YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT $91
BILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YOU'RE LOOKING AT $91 BILLION AS
AN ALTERNATIVE TO $135 BILLION IN PREMIUMS, DEDUCTIBLES AND CO-PAYS
AND OUT-OF-NETWORK CHARGES. YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THE NUMBER IN
ISOLATION; YOU HAVE TO ASK WHAT IS IT COMPARED TO. THE $91 BILLION IS
$45 BILLION LESS THAN WHAT NEW YORKERS -- THAN THE $135 BILLION THAT
NEW YORKERS ARE SPENDING TODAY. AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, IF I
HAD THE CHOICE BETWEEN SPENDING $135 FOR SOMETHING AND $91 FOR THE
SAME THING, I'D GO FOR $91.
MR. RAIA: BUT WE'RE ASSUMING THAT'S BASED ON SOLID
INFORMATION. NOW, THE -- YOU'RE ALSO RELYING ON, WHAT, $100 BILLION
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T
WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN A -- IN A, YOU KNOW, A PILOT PROJECT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE BULK OF THE
MONEY WE GET FROM WASHINGTON IS -- IS MEDICAID AND THE NEW YORK
HEALTH ACT WOULD NOT TOUCH THE MONEY WE GET FROM MEDICAID.
MEDICAID WOULD BE SURROUNDED BY THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WHICH IS
NOT ANYTHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ANY BUSINESS CARING
ABOUT. THE -- NEW YORK, FROM THE VERY START OF THE MEDICAID PROGRAM,
29
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
HAS COVERED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T
PROVIDE MATCHING MONEY FOR AND HAS PROVIDED SERVICES THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PROVIDE MATCHING MONEY FOR. AND SO,
THE FACT THAT 20 MILLION NEW YORKERS WOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN THE
PROGRAM DOES NOT AFFECT AT ALL THE MONEY WE GET FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR MEDICAID, AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO DOCUMENT TO THEM
WHAT WE'RE USING THEIR MONEY FOR.
ON MEDICARE, IT WOULD BE BEST IF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO SAVE THEMSELVES MONEY BY -- BY
SENDING NEW YORK A LUMP-SUM PAYMENT TO GO INTO THE NEW YORK
HEALTH TRUST FUND TO COVER WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SPENDING ON
MEDICARE IN NEW YORK, BUT IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT, THAT'S OKAY.
WE CAN RUN THE PROGRAM AS A WRAPAROUND, ESSENTIALLY AS A MEDI-GAP
POLICY. OR, EVEN BETTER, WE CAN CREATE ONE BIG MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
PLAN IN NEW YORK THAT, UNLIKE OTHER MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS,
WOULD NOT HAVE RESTRICTED PROVIDER NETWORKS, ET CETERA, AND DRAW DOWN
EVEN MORE MONEY FROM WASHINGTON BECAUSE THEY OVERPAY MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE PLANS, AND WE COULD -- WE COULD FOLD MEDICARE IN THAT WAY.
SO, YES, COOPERATION FROM WASHINGTON ON THE MEDICARE SIDE WOULD BE
GREAT, BUT WE ARE NOT DEPENDING ON THAT.
MR. RAIA: CAN WE AGREE THERE'S, WHAT, ABOUT
930,000 UNINSURED IN NEW YORK STATE, 4.7 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION?
MR. GOTTFRIED: IT'S SOMEWHERE ABOVE OR BELOW A
MILLION, YES.
MR. RAIA: OKAY. LET'S TALK -- NOW, I ACTUALLY AGREE
30
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
WITH YOU THAT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAS ACTUALLY WORKED IN NEW
YORK BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE CHOICES AND SELECTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM
THAN MANY OTHER STATES. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE HIGHEST PRICED
EXCHANGE PLAN IS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: NO.
MR. RAIA: OKAY, I WILL. IN NASSAU AND SUFFOLK
COUNTY, THE COUNTY I REPRESENT, IT'S ABOUT $1,110 A MONTH,
$13,000-AND-CHANGE PER YEAR. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST
TO JUST SIMPLY INSURE EVERY UNINSURED PERSON USING THE HIGHEST-PRICED
PLAN AVAILABLE ON THE EXCHANGE? I'LL SAVE YOU -- I'LL SAVE YOU THE
ANSWER; IT'S $12.34 BILLION. SO, WE CAN HAVE 100 PERCENT INSURED RATE
IN NEW YORK STATE FOR $12 BILLION, BUT, YET, YOU WANT TO SPEND $255
BILLION.
MR. GOTTFRIED: NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE. FIRST OF ALL,
UNDER YOUR PROPOSAL, WE WOULD BE CONTINUING TO WASTE AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF MONEY ON EXPENDITURES THAT DON'T MAKE ANYBODY ANY
HEALTHIER. NUMBER TWO, IF WE PROVIDE THAT COVERAGE TO THOSE UNINSURED
PEOPLE, DEPENDING ON -- YOU'D HAVE TO TELL ME A LOT MORE ABOUT HOW
YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A STRUCTURE FOR IT. IF YOU'RE GOING TO HEAVILY
SUBSIDIZE IT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING INTO THAT PLAN,
PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHO ARE -- WHO ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER USERS OF
HEALTH CARE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO IT. ADVERSE
SELECTION, WHICH IS WHAT THAT'S CALLED, WOULD THEN DRIVE UP THE COST OF
THAT PLAN ENORMOUSLY AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, IT WOULD GO BANKRUPT.
MR. RAIA: WELL, I -- I HAVEN'T PUT FORTH A PLAN, I'M
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
JUST STATING NUMBERS.
MR. GOTTFRIED: PART OF WHAT IS ESSENTIAL -- PART
OF WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT IS THAT ALL NEW
YORKERS, RICH AND POOR, HEALTHY AND SICK ARE IN ONE POOL FUNDED
WITHOUT ENORMOUS WASTE, FUNDED BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY AND WITHOUT
ADVERSE SELECTION. WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING DOESN'T DO ANY OF THOSE
THINGS.
MR. RAIA: WELL, I HAVEN'T PUT FORTH A PLAN, I'M JUST
CITING STATISTICS AND DOLLARS AND CENTS.
MR. GOTTFRIED: I KNOW THAT. AND, BY THE WAY,
I'D LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD.
MR. RAIA: OH, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN WORK ON THAT
FOR NEXT YEAR. YOUR ECONOMIST, PROFESSOR FRIEDMAN, PROJECTS THAT
150,000 PEOPLE WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS DUE TO THIS BILL, BUT CLAIMS 99
PERCENT WILL REGAIN EMPLOYMENT IN ONLY TWO YEARS. YOU'RE AWARE THAT
EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY THAT HAS IMPLEMENTED A SINGLE-PLAYER PLAN OR
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE HAS TAKEN UP TO 10 YEARS TO IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN.
SO, YOU THINK 150,000 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED IN
JUST TWO YEARS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: I DON'T AGREE WITH ANY OF WHAT
YOU'VE JUST SAID. I DON'T KNOW ANY COUNTRY THAT TOOK 10 YEARS TO
IMPLEMENT A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM.
MR. RAIA: VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM, AND I'LL GET YOU THE
STATISTICS, RICHARD.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, I VISITED TAIWAN --
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. RAIA: SO DID I.
MR. GOTTFRIED: I VISITED --
MR. RAIA: AND TAIWAN DOESN'T PAY FOR --
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: GENTLEMEN,
GENTLEMEN, GENTLEMEN, GENTLEMEN.
MR. RAIA: FAIR ENOUGH.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YOU ASKED A
QUESTION, HE ANSWERS. YOU ASK A QUESTION.
MR. GOTTFRIED: I VISITED TAIWAN FIVE YEARS AFTER
THEIR RIGHT-WING PARTY ADOPTED A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM AND IT WAS IN FULL
SWING. AND I TALKED WITH A GROUP OF AMERICAN BUSINESS LEADERS WHO
WERE LIVING IN TAIWAN AND I ASKED THEM WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF THE PLAN
AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS TERRIFIC. IN CANADA, IT WAS IMPLEMENTED
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. WHEN LYNDON JOHNSON SIGNED THE MEDICARE LAW
IN 1965, 11 MONTHS LATER IT WAS PAYING CLAIMS. THIS NOTION THAT IT
TAKES 10 YEARS TO IMPLEMENT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM, NOT
FROM HISTORY, NOT FROM ANYBODY'S EXPERIENCE.
MR. RAIA: WELL, I'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE --
MR. GOTTFRIED: AND, BY THE WAY, IF IT TAKES 10
YEARS TO IMPLEMENT, WELL THEN -- WHICH I DON'T ACCEPT, THEN THE
TRANSITION FROM THE CURRENT EMPLOYMENT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT, BUT NEITHER OF THOSE FACTS IS TRUE. AND I HOPE YOU'RE NOT
SUGGESTING THAT A SYSTEM THAT DEPRIVES PEOPLE OF HEALTH CARE, THAT KILLS
PEOPLE, THAT DRIVES PEOPLE INTO BANKRUPTCY MORE THAN ANY OTHER CAUSE
IN OUR COUNTRY, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE
33
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THAT CONCEPT AS A JOBS PROGRAM. THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT PROVIDES
FOR SOME OF ITS REVENUE TO BE USED FOR JOB TRAINING AND TRANSITION, AND
WHEN YOU PUT $45 BILLION BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF NEW YORKERS, YOU
WILL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY CREATE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND JOBS OR
MORE AND YOU WILL BE TURNING NEW YORK INTO AN EMPLOYMENT MAGNET
BECAUSE EMPLOYERS IN NEW YORK WILL BE SPENDING A WHOLE LOT LESS THAN
THEY ARE TODAY FOR HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THEIR WORKERS.
MR. RAIA: RICHARD, I WAS IN TAIWAN TWO YEARS AGO
AND I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE MINISTER OF HEALTH MANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THEIR SINGLE-PAYER PLAN. AND I ASKED -- THE FIRST QUESTION WAS
HOW DO YOU FINANCE -- ONE OF THE LARGEST COST-DRIVERS ARE NURSING
HOMES IN OUR SYSTEM AND I ASKED THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND HE SAID,
WELL, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN
NURSING HOMES; THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, I ASKED, YOU KNOW,
ANOTHER MAJOR DRIVER FOR -- FOR OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS THE
MENTALLY-ILL AND THE MINISTER OF HEALTH ACTUALLY TOLD ME, WE HAVE NO
MENTALLY-ILL IN TAIWAN. SO, IF YOU TAKE OUT TWO OF THE LARGEST
COST-DRIVERS, OF COURSE YOU CAN HAVE A -- A SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE
PLAN, RICHARD.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE NUMBERS
THAT YOU AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING HERE TODAY ARE -- ARE ONLY FOR CARE
OTHER THAN LONG-TERM CARE. SO, WHETHER NURSING -- WHETHER -- AS
SOMEONE FROM TAIWAN TOLD ME A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THEY SAID, WE
HAVE EIGHT MILLION NURSING HOMES IN TAIWAN, MEANING HOUSEHOLDS.
BUT, THE NUMBERS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
34
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
COST OF NURSING HOMES OR LONG-TERM CARE. AS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE,
THE FACT THAT THE MINISTER FROM TAIWAN TELLS YOU THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
ANY MENTALLY-ILL PEOPLE DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T SPEND A CHUNK OF
MONEY ON MENTAL HEALTH CARE, IT MEANS THAT HE CHOSE TO TELL YOU THAT
THEY DON'T HAVE MENTALLY-ILL PEOPLE IN TAIWAN. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT'S
NOT TRUE.
MR. RAIA: I CAN ONLY -- THANK YOU. I'LL BE BACK FOR
ANOTHER 15 MINUTES. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RAIA, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
MR. ZEBROWSKI.
MR. ZEBROWSKI: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL
THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A COUPLE QUESTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WILL YOU YIELD, MR.
GOTTFRIED?
MR. GOTTFRIED: CERTAINLY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MR. ZEBROWSKI: THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED. LAST
TIME WE DEBATED THIS BILL, I ASKED A FEW QUESTIONS AND I'D JUST LIKE TO
AUGMENT THAT A LITTLE BIT. SO, I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE PRIOR
DEBATE AND A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT THE THEORETICAL
ASPECTS OF A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM AND HOW TAKING OUT THE PROFIT MARGIN
OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, THAT WE CAN PROVIDE CHEAPER AND BETTER
HEALTH INSURANCE. WHEN I TALKED TO SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE
-- ABOUT THIS BILL OR THE ISSUES IN GENERAL, THEY'RE GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
I GUESS WHAT THEIR QUESTION OFTENTIMES IS TO ME IS, WELL, A, WILL I BE
ABLE TO SEE THE SAME DOCTORS AND, B, WILL I BE PAYING MORE OR LESS IF
THIS BILL WERE IMPLEMENTED? SO, HOW DO YOU GENERALLY ANSWER THOSE
SORT OF SIMPLE QUESTIONS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, ON THE QUESTION OF CHOICE
OF PROVIDER, MOST OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS TODAY DON'T GET TO SEE THE DOCTOR
OF THEIR CHOICE UNLESS THEY PAY A LOT OUT-OF-POCKET. THEY GET TO SEE THE
DOCTOR THAT THEIR INSURANCE PLAN HAS IN THEIR PROVIDER NETWORK. UNDER
THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, THERE WILL BE NO RESTRICTED PROVIDER
NETWORK. TWENTY MILLION NEW YORKERS WILL BE ENTITLED TO GO TO ANY
DOCTOR, ANY PHYSICAL THERAPIST, ANY HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK. NO
RESTRICTED PROVIDER NETWORK. SECONDLY, WHETHER THEY WILL BE PAYING
MORE OR LESS. UNLESS THEY ARE REALLY WEALTHY PEOPLE, THEY WILL BE
PAYING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THEY ARE PAYING TODAY IN PREMIUMS AND
DEDUCTIBLES AND CO-PAYS AND -- AND OUT-OF-POCKET CHARGES.
MR. ZEBROWSKI: ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE THINGS
ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS THE GREAT DISPARITY BETWEEN WHAT
PEOPLE PAY AND WHAT THEY GET. SO, I MAY BE SITTING DOWN WITH
SOMEONE WHO HAS A GREAT COLLECTIVE -- COLLECTIVELY-BARGAINED HEALTH
INSURANCE PLAN THAT THEY ARE VERY HAPPY WITH, AND AN HOUR LATER, I MAY
HAVE SOMEONE IN MY OFFICE WHO IS CURRENTLY WORKING AS A FREELANCE,
FILL-IN-THE-BLANK, AND STRUGGLING ON THE EXCHANGES, SEEING INCREASES
EVERY YEAR. SO, HOW CAN I TELL BOTH THOSE PEOPLE -- I'M QUITE CONFIDENT
FOR THE PERSON THAT'S STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW THAT UNDER THIS PLAN THEY
WOULD BE BETTER, BUT WHAT DO WE TELL THOSE FOLKS BELIEVE THAT, YOU
36
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
KNOW, THEY HAVE 15, 20 YEARS IN A CURRENT CAREER, THEY'VE COLLECTIVELY
BARGAINED, THEY HAVE A GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, THAT THEY'LL ALSO BE
PAYING LESS OR SIMILAR.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YEAH.
MR. ZEBROWSKI: IS THERE ANYWAY TO ASSURE THEM?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, IS
THAT IN THE -- IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT, HAVING THE -- A UNION HEALTH PLAN
WAS ONE OF THE -- WAS AND STILL IS ONE OF THE PROUD THINGS THAT THE UNION
MOVEMENT OFFERS. INCREASINGLY, THOUGH, UNIONS UNDERSTAND THAT -- THAT
THE COLLECTIVELY-BARGAINED HEALTH PLAN IS AN ENORMOUS BURDEN ON THE
WORKERS AND ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BECAUSE EVERY COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING SESSION IS A USUALLY RETREATING FIGHT TO PROTECT THE HEALTH
PLAN WITH THE UNION HAVING REALLY NO LEVERAGE LEFT TO FIGHT FOR HIGHER
WAGES OR BETTER BENEFITS OR VACATIONS, ET CETERA. AND SO, INCREASINGLY
THE LABOR MOVEMENT SEES COLLECTIVELY-BARGAINED HEALTH CARE AS A GREAT
THING, BUT AN ENORMOUS WEIGHT AROUND THE NECK OF THE UNION AND ITS
MEMBERS. A UNION THAT HAS NEGOTIATED WITH MANAGEMENT TO PAY FOR
THE BULK OR ALL OF THE COST OF THE HEALTH PLAN WILL INSTEAD NEGOTIATE WITH
MANAGEMENT TO PAY THE BULK OR ALL OF THE PAYROLL TAX UNDER NEW YORK
HEALTH, WHICH THE BILL ALLOWS. THEY WILL HAVE AN EASIER TIME
NEGOTIATING THAT BECAUSE THEY WILL BE NEGOTIATING WITH THE EMPLOYER TO
PAY A LARGER SHARE OF A SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO, PUT ALL THAT DYNAMIC
TOGETHER, AS I SAID, UNLESS YOU'RE TALKING TO A VERY HIGH INCOME
CONSTITUENT, IT IS GUARANTEED THAT THEY WILL BE SPENDING A LOT LESS FOR
BETTER COVERAGE UNDER THIS BILL.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. ZEBROWSKI: WHEN YOU SAY A "HIGHER INCOME
CONSTITUENT," BUT, YOU KNOW, I TALK TO FOLKS ALL THE TIME THAT SOME PAY
10 PERCENT, SOME PAY 0, SOME PAY 25 PERCENT, SOME PAY 33 PERCENT OR
50 PERCENT OF THEIR CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN. SO, WHAT ABOUT THOSE
FOLKS? WHAT CAN I TELL THEM AFTER THIS BILL PASSES, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU
PAY IN TAXES WILL SURELY BE THE SAME OR IF NOT LESS THAN WHAT YOU'RE
PAYING NOW?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, THE BILL SAYS THAT AT LEAST 80
PERCENT OF THE PAYROLL TAX WILL BE PAID BY THE EMPLOYER, AND UP TO 20
PERCENT PAYABLE BY THE WORKER. AND IT SAYS "AT LEAST AND UP TO" TO
ACCOMMODATE A BARGAINING SITUATION. AND, AGAIN, A -- IF AN EMPLOYER
HAS BARGAINED TO PAY MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE PREMIUM,
IT'LL BE EASIER TO GET THEM TO PAY THAT SAME PERCENTAGE OR MORE OF THE
LOWER NUMBER, WHICH IS THE PAYROLL TAX. ALSO, AN AWFUL LOT OF THOSE
PLANS, EVEN WITH THE EMPLOYER PAYING THE BULK OF THE PREMIUM, AND, BY
THE WAY, WITH ALMOST EVERY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ROUND, IN MOST CASES
THE EMPLOYER IS CHISELING DOWN WHAT THE EMPLOYER PAYS. BUT EVEN
APART FROM THAT, USUALLY THE WORKER THEN HITS A DEDUCTIBLE AND CO-PAYS
AND OUT-OF-NETWORK CHARGES, AND UNDER THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT,
THERE WOULD BE NO DEDUCTIBLES OR CO-PAYS OR OUT-OF-NETWORK CHARGES.
MR. ZEBROWSKI: IS IT SAFE TO SAY UNDER THE BILL
THAT AS I HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I CAN SAY TO
THEM, IF THIS BILL WERE TO PASS BOTH HOUSES AND BE SIGNED BY THE
GOVERNOR, I WILL AT SOME POINT HAVE SPECIFIC FACTS AND FIGURES I CAN
SHOW YOU. MY UNDERSTANDING IS UNDER THIS BILL IF WE PASS IT, THERE'D BE
38
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
A SECOND PART OF THE BILL WHERE IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO US AND AT
THAT POINT AFTER A STUDY, I CAN SHOW MY CONSTITUENTS, THIS IS WHAT YOU'D
BE PAYING AND YOU COMPARE IT TO WHAT YOU'RE PAYING NOW.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES. THE BILL DOES NOT HAVE
SPECIFIC TAX BRACKETS AND RATES, NOR COULD IT, AT THIS POINT, PARTLY
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATE'S OVERALL INCOME WILL BE SOME
NUMBER OF YEARS FROM NOW WHEN WE'RE READY TO -- WHEN THE PLAN IS
ENACTED AND IMPLEMENTED. BUT THE GOVERNOR, UNDER THE BILL, WILL
SUBMIT LEGISLATION TO US WITH SPECIFIC BRACKETS AND RATES. WE WILL -- IT
WILL BE UP TO US TO ENACT THAT. SO, YOU WILL HAVE HARD NUMBERS.
MR. ZEBROWSKI: THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
MR. ZEBROWSKI: ON THE -- MR. SPEAKER, ON THE
BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.
MR. ZEBROWSKI: MR. SPEAKER, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE
TRAVESTY THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS THAT STRUGGLE TO TAKE
CARE OF THEMSELVES, TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, THAT EACH AND EVERY
DAY AND EACH AND EVERY YEAR AS THEY GO THROUGH A HEALTH INSURANCE
PROCESS, THAT THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER EVER-RISING COSTS, AND THERE'S
REALLY NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEM BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF
THEIR OWN HEALTH OR THEIR FAMILIES' HEALTH. SO, WHEN WE LOOK AT BILLS
LIKE THIS, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE FOLKS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT I
CAN'T IMAGINE A BIGGER PRIORITY FOR US THEN TO PROVIDE INSURANCE, TO
PROVIDE COVERAGE, TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY
39
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
STRUGGLING.
AT THE SAME TIME, MR. SPEAKER, ONE OF THE DIFFERENT --
DIFFICULTIES OF THIS DEBATE IS THAT YOU HAVE FOLKS IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT
FORTUNATELY HAVE GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE, THAT ARE MAYBE PART OF A UNION
OR HAVE AN EMPLOYER THAT PROVIDES GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE, AND WE CAN'T
FORGET THOSE FOLKS AND WE CAN'T JUST CAST THEM ASIDE AND SAY, WELL, YOUR
CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE DON'T MATTER BECAUSE WE
MAY HAVE PEOPLE IN A SITUATION THAT ISN'T AS ADVANTAGEOUS. SO, THIS
BALANCING ACT IS OFTEN TIMES WHAT IS DIFFICULT IN ANY HEALTH INSURANCE
DEBATE, WHETHER IT'S ON THE STATE LEVEL OR ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO, WHAT I THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS BILL, AND
I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR, IS THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING IN NEW
YORK. WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BALANCE BOTH THESE -- BOTH
THOSE THAT HAVE GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE AND THOSE THAT DON'T, BUT WE
NEED TO GIVE OUR CONSTITUENTS SOME FACTS. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM SOME
FIGURES. THEY SIT DOWN AT THE DINNER TABLE AND THEY ARE GOING TO
COMPARE WHAT THEY PAY. SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS PAY A COUPLE
HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, SOME PAY $6- OR $700 A MONTH. SOME ARE
PAYING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH IN ORDER FOR THEIR
HEALTH INSURANCE.
BUT THE REASON WHY I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS BILL IS
NOT ONLY WITH THE HOPE THAT WE CAN DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WILL COVER
EVERYBODY, THAT WILL PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE, THAT WILL FINALLY MAKE
THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGE OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE FOR THOSE THAT STRUGGLE EACH AND EVERY DAY, BUT
40
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THAT WE CAN ALSO TELL PEOPLE THAT CURRENTLY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, HERE'S
WHAT THE PLAN IS. BECAUSE TOO OFTEN IN THIS DEBATE WE'RE DEALING WITH
THEORY AND WE'RE REALLY NOT GIVING OUR CONSTITUENTS THE TOOLS NECESSARY
FOR THEM TO EVALUATE AND I THINK COME AROUND TO SUPPORT A BILL LIKE
THIS. BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST UNANIMOUS, IT'S NOT UNANIMOUS, BUT WHEN I
TALK ABOUT, THEY WANT TO GIVE THEIR NEIGHBOR THAT IS STRUGGLING WITH
HEALTH INSURANCE, HEALTH INSURANCE. BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR WHATEVER THE NEW PLAN IS, THEY'LL BE
ABLE TO SEE THEIR CURRENT DOCTOR TOMORROW THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE TODAY
AND THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE -- THAT THEIR PLAN WON'T BE HARMED.
SO FOR THAT REASON, MR. SPEAKER, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
WELL THOUGHT OUT, THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THIS AND THE FACT THAT I'LL BE ABLE
TO GO BACK TO MY DISTRICT IN ROCKLAND COUNTY AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT IT
IS, BEFORE IT'S DROPPED ON PEOPLE, THAT'S WHY I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. PHILLIP STECK.
MR. STECK: ON THE BILL, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.
MR. STECK: A FREQUENT THING THAT I'VE HEARD FROM
OPPONENTS OF THIS BILL, EVEN WITHIN MY OWN PARTY, IS THAT, WE DON'T
NEED ANOTHER BIG GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. AND THAT IS WHAT IDEOLOGY
MIGHT TEACH US. PRACTICALITY, HOWEVER, DEMONSTRATES THAT THIS IS AN
AREA WHERE GOVERNMENT SIMPLY AND HISTORICALLY HAS FUNCTIONED MORE
EFFICIENTLY THAN PRIVATE INSURANCE. OUR CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE
41
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
SYSTEM IS WOEFULLY INEFFICIENT. WHEN MEDICAID IS ADDED TO PRIVATE
INSURANCE, AND THAT MEDICAID HAS TO BE PROVIDED TO COVER PEOPLE
PRIVATE INSURANCE WON'T, ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD IS EATING UP AS MUCH
AS 40 PERCENT OF THE DOLLARS WE SPEND ON HEALTH CARE. WE NEED A LESS
EXPENSIVE, MORE READILY-ACCESSIBLE SYSTEM.
OTHER ADVANCED NATIONS HAVE MET THIS CHALLENGE, AND
WE SHOULD, TOO. MEDICARE, WHICH IS A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM FOR THE
ELDERLY, SPENDS LESS THAN 3 PERCENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
FURTHERMORE, THE MEDICARE TAX WHICH IS 2.9 PERCENT, HALF EMPLOYER AND
HALF EMPLOYEE-PAID, EACH PAYS 1.45 PERCENT, HAS NOT INCREASED SINCE
1986, WHILE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE HAS GONE UP SEVERAL HUNDRED
TIMES DURING THAT SAME PERIOD. MEDICARE HAS DONE ALL THIS WHILE
INSURING THE LEAST HEALTHY POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
NEW YORK HEALTH ACT WOULD SAVE NEARLY $45 BILLION
IN THE FIRST YEAR ALONE, THANKS TO REDUCED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND 98
PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS WOULD PAY LESS FOR COVERAGE THAN THEY DO NOW.
THE SYSTEM WOULD ALSO END THE LOCAL SHARE OF MEDICAID FUNDING WHICH
IS INCREASING OUR PROPERTY TAXES IN THIS STATE, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR
SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR MY CONSTITUENTS.
BUSINESS NEEDS TO SUPPORT SINGLE-PAYER ABOVE ALL
SECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY. BUSINESS NEEDS TO GET PAST ANTI-GOVERNMENT
IDEOLOGY, GET ON BOARD AND SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL, BECAUSE IT IS
BUSINESS THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THE LOWER COSTS. IN THE
MOVIE, FIX IT, WHICH YOU CAN GET ON THE INTERNET AND I WOULD HEARTILY
RECOMMEND THIS TO COLLEAGUES AND CONSTITUENTS ALIKE, A BUSINESSMAN
42
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA COMPLAINED THAT
HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN A SIMILAR BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE
THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE WAS PROHIBITIVE. THE HIGH COST OF HEALTH
INSURANCE IS A HIGHLY-SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN MAKING AMERICA BUSINESS
LESS COMPETITIVE.
IT IS VERY IRONIC. ONE OF THE MOST HISTORICALLY
CONSERVATIVE PARTIES IN THE WORLD, THE KUOMINTANG IN TAIWAN, LONG
TRUMPETED BY THE AMERICAN RIGHT AS STAUNCH ANTI-COMMUNIST ADOPTED
SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE WITH GREAT SUCCESS. THE NEW YORK
HEALTH ACT WOULD ALSO HELP US BY REDUCING AUTO INSURANCE COSTS,
WORKERS' COMPENSATION COSTS AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE COSTS, BECAUSE
ALL THOSE PROGRAMS DUPLICATE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND ENACT A CRITICAL COST-SAVINGS
MEASURE THAT WILL ALLEVIATE SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL STRESS ON OUR
BUSINESSES AND OUR CONSTITUENTS. WE HAVE SECRETARIES PAYING
$10,000-A-YEAR FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. WE SHOULD NOT CONTINUE THIS
ABSURDITY IN THE NAME OF AN OUTDATED FREE MARKET IDEOLOGY AS IF THERE
REALLY IS A FREE MARKET IN HEALTH CARE. AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE --
ONE THING THAT I THINK IS HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE IS TO REFER TO THIS AS
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE. THIS IS NOT CONTROL OVER MEDICINE IN ANY WAY,
SHAPE OR FORM. IT IS, HOWEVER, QUITE FRANKLY, SOCIALIZED HEALTH
INSURANCE.
AS I HAVE NOTED BEFORE, THE PROVINCIAL CANADIAN
PRIME MINISTER WHO FIRST IMPLEMATED -- IMPLEMENTED A SINGLE-PAYER
SYSTEM WAS VOTED BY THE CITIZENS OF CANADA AS THE GREATEST LIVING
43
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
CANADIAN. DICK GOTTFRIED DESERVES A SIMILAR NEW YORK TITLE FOR HIS
PERSISTENCE ON THIS ISSUE OVER THE MANY YEARS AND FOR WHICH I OFFER MY
HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. RAIA FOR A SECOND.
MR. RAIA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THE SPONSOR
HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THIS BILL FOR 20 YEARS, OR CLOSE TO 20 YEARS, AND I
HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR HIM. HE REALLY DOES BELIEVE WHAT HE'S TALKING
ABOUT. AND HE'S ALSO VERY GOOD AT RUNNING DOWN THE CLOCK. SO, I HAVE
ABOUT 50 QUESTIONS THAT I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER TO BECAUSE MY FIRST
BOSS UP HERE, JOHN COCHRANE, ASSEMBLYMAN COCHRANE, TAUGHT ME
NEVER TO ASK A QUESTION ON THE FLOOR OF THE ASSEMBLY THAT YOU DON'T
ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER. SO, I'M GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS AND ANSWER
THEM AND I'M NOT GOING TO -- UPFRONT, I'M NOT GOING TO YIELD TO
ANYBODY. THEY CAN UTILIZE THEIR OWN TIME TO RESPOND TO -- TO WHAT I'M
SAYING AFTER I'M DONE.
SO HERE WE GO. IN CALIFORNIA, WHOSE ALSO -- WHICH IS
A STATE THAT'S ALSO TRYING TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, THEY HAVE 39.45
MILLION PEOPLE, APPROXIMATELY TWICE THE SIZE OF NEW YORK. CALIFORNIA
ESTIMATES THE SINGLE-PAYER PLAN, THEIR SINGLE-PAYER PLAN WILL BE $400
BILLION A YEAR. THEIR ANALYSIS WAS DONE BY THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE,
NOT ONE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL WHERE WE'RE RELYING ON MOST OF -- OF WHAT
THEIR PROJECTIONS ARE. SO, NEW YORK IS HALF THE SIZE OF CALIFORNIA, BUT
SINGLE-PAYER HERE WOULD ONLY BE A QUARTER-OF-THE-COST. I DON'T KNOW;
THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUZZY MATH TO ME.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
LET'S SEE. THE SIZE OF THE STATE BUDGET IF WE ADOPT
SINGLE-PAYER WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $375 BILLION; $255 BILLION FOR
SINGLE-PAYER, APPROXIMATELY $50 BILLION FOR EDUCATION, APPROXIMATELY
$70 BILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION, ET CETERA, EVERYTHING ELSE. SO, THAT
MEANS THAT 85 PERCENT OF ALL STATE SPENDING WOULD GO TO HEALTH CARE.
I'M PRETTY SURE NEW YORKERS DON'T WANT US SPENDING 85 CENTS OF EVERY
TAX DOLLAR ON A DOCTOR VISIT.
THE BILL, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, CALLS FOR FULL
IMPLEMENTATION IN TWO YEARS. WELL, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING
TO BE A PIPE DREAM. EVERY OTHER COUNTRY THAT HAS SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH
CARE CURRENTLY HAS PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS THAT COMPETE WITH THE PUBLIC
PAYER, WHICH HELPS KEEP THOSE COSTS LOWER. IT'S ALSO BEGUN PRIVATIZING
ASPECTS OF COVERAGE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE MODEL THAT WE'RE
ADVOCATING HERE TODAY. MANY OF US ON THE HEALTH COMMITTEE ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE MEDICAID REDESIGN TEAM, THE MRT, AND ITS
INITIATIVES TO HELP LOWER THE COST OF MEDICAID. A MAJOR PART OF THE
MRT HAS BEEN THE INTRODUCTION OF MANAGED CARE PLANS THAT HAVE SAVED
NEW YORK STATE NEARLY $16 BILLION IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. I CONTEND
THAT IF WE GO THIS ROUTE, WE'RE GOING TO BACKTRACK ON MANY OF THOSE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS; IN FACT, THE CMS AWARDED NEW YORK STATE AN $8
BILLION WAIVER FOR DSRIP BASED ON THE SAVINGS ACHIEVED BY
IMPLEMENTING MANAGED CARE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST NEW YORK. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS FINDING THAT PUBLIC PAYER SYSTEMS WORK BEST WHEN PRIVATE PLANS HELP
ADMINISTER THEM. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IS A WIDELY SUCCESSFUL AND
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
POPULAR PROGRAM THAT IS PRIVATELY ADMINISTERED. USING THE EXPERTS,
QUOTE/UNQUOTE "ESTIMATES," THERE'S A TOTAL NEW TAX REVENUE NEW YORK
WOULD NEED TO RAISE IS AROUND $91 BILLION. THE TAX REVENUE NEW YORK
COLLECTS FROM ALL SOURCES RIGHT NOW IS $71.6 BILLION. SO, EVEN
ACCORDING TO WHAT EVERYBODY ACKNOWLEDGES IS AN EXCESSIVELY
CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE, WE WOULD NEED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE TOTAL
TAXES NEW YORK COLLECTS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR FEWER THAN ONE
MILLION STILL UNINSURED NEW YORKERS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROFESSOR FRIEDMAN PROJECTS THAT
150,000 PEOPLE WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS DUE TO THIS BILL, BUT CLAIMS 99
PERCENT OF THEM WILL REGAIN EMPLOYMENT IN ONLY TWO YEARS. I'M PRETTY
SURE THAT'S NOT REALISTIC, AND HISTORY TELLS US THAT'S THE CASE, BECAUSE THE
LAST TIME NEW YORK LOST 150,000 JOBS, ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK
STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WAS 2007-9 DURING THE GREAT RECESSION.
WE LOST 219,000 JOBS, AND UPSTATE STILL HASN'T FULLY RECOVERED.
ACCORDING TO PROFESSOR FRIEDMAN, HE EXPECTS THOSE 150,000 JOBS TO
REGAIN EMPLOYMENT WITHIN TWO YEARS. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE LAST
TIME NEW YORK LOST 150,000 JOBS AND REGAINED THEM IN TWO YEARS?
NEVER. SO -- AND THEN, WHAT'S THE VALUE OF THOSE LOST WAGES, THOSE
150,000 PEOPLE? MR. -- PROFESSOR FRIEDMAN DOESN'T TAKE THAT INTO
ACCOUNT, BUT MY PEOPLE HAVE AND IT'S ABOUT $10 BILLION.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES OF HEALTH
INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE -- ARE IN MANHATTAN COUNTY ALONE? TEN
THOUSAND INSURANCE EMPLOYEES THAT WILL LOSE THEIR JOB. THAT DOESN'T
COUNT FOR THE BROKERS, THE UNDERWRITERS AND THE THIRD-PARTY
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
ADMINISTRATORS AND THE VENDORS, AND THE LIST GOES ON. DO YOU KNOW
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES WORK RIGHT HERE
IN ALBANY COUNTY? MORE THAN 3,700, AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE
BROKERS, UNDERWRITERS, THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE LIST GOES ON.
NOW, PROFESSOR FRIEDMAN DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ESTIMATES OF
AVIK ROY WHO CLAIMS WE'RE GOING TO LOSE 90,000 JOBS JUST BECAUSE THE
FINANCIAL SECTOR IS GOING TO FLEE NEW YORK LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN, TO
CONNECTICUT.
IF THIS PASSES, PEOPLE CAN'T KEEP THEIR MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE PLAN. IF THIS PASSES, PEOPLE WHO GET THEIR COVERAGE THROUGH
LABOR UNIONS CAN'T KEEP THAT. IF THIS PASSES, PEOPLE WHO LIKE THEIR
EMPLOYER'S HEALTH CARE PLAN CAN'T KEEP THAT EITHER, BECAUSE NEW YORK
WOULD MANDATE THERE BE NO OTHER COMPETING PLANS.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M NOT WILLING TO GAMBLE THE FUTURE OF
NEW YORK'S ECONOMY ON PRIMARILY THE BEST GUESSTIMATES OF A PROFESSOR
WHO THEMSELVES READILY ADMITS THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY AT LOOKING AT
THE WORLD. I'M NOT GOING TO BE IN A POSITION TO TELL THE ROUGHLY 2,500
PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT OR IN SUFFOLK COUNTY THAT ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR
JOBS THAT THEY HAVE TO SACRIFICE FOR THE GREATER GOOD. I THINK WE NEED TO
PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS AND FIGURE OUT A REAL WAY THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS
ARE GOING TO FIND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, BECAUSE TURNING THEM INTO CARE
COORDINATORS AIN'T GONNA CUT IT.
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S A NOBLE IDEA TO TRY AND ENSURE THAT
EVERYBODY HAS EQUAL HEALTH CARE, BUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIKE THEIR PLANS
CAN'T KEEP THEM. WE'VE ALREADY -- I'VE ALREADY PUT FORTH A POTENTIAL
47
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
IDEA THAT COULD DO THIS FOR FAR LESS. I CERTAINLY WILL BE EXPLORING IT,
BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE NEXT YEAR
DEBATING THIS BILL AGAIN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO, IN
ADVANCE, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR -- FOR HIS ZEALOUS DEBATE
AND I TRULY ENJOY WORKING WITH HIM AS THE RANKING MEMBER ON THE
HEALTH COMMITTEE. AND ON THAT NOTE, I WILL SIT DOWN, MIND MY P'S AND
Q'S AND LET OTHERS PICK UP THE PACE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET OUT OF
HERE AT A REASONABLE HOUR.
(LAUGHTER)
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THANK YOU, MR.
RAIA.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: YES, THANK YOU, SIR, FOR ALLOWING A
BRIEF INTERRUPTION. I'D LIKE TO ASK MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE TO
MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE WHILE THE DEBATE
CONTINUES, MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE, SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE
ROOM.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MEMBERS OF THE
RULES COMMITTEE, SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. RULES COMMITTEE IN
THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.
APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
MR. BARCLAY.
MR. BARCLAY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WOULD
THE SPONSOR YIELD?
48
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: DO YOU YIELD,
MR. GOTTFRIED?
MR. GOTTFRIED: CERTAINLY.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE SPONSOR
YIELDS.
MR. BARCLAY: THIS WILL BE QUICK, BECAUSE I HAVE
TO GO TO THE RULES COMMITTEE MEETING. I'M TRYING TO GET MY ARMS
AROUND THE ECONOMICS OF THIS, MR. GOTTFRIED. I THINK YOU -- YOU SAID
EARLIER IN THE DEBATE, $280 BILLION WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ON HEALTH CARE
NEXT YEAR; IS THAT CORRECT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
MR. BARCLAY: PRIVATE AND PUBLIC?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
MR. BARCLAY: YOUR BILL TAKES AWAY ANY PRIVATE
INSURANCE, SO, WE'LL BE SPENDING IN NEW YORK PUBLICLY $280 BILLION
NEXT YEAR; IS THAT CORRECT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: NO. ABOUT $140 BILLION OF THAT
IS PUBLIC HEALTH COVERAGE TODAY, MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND A COUPLE OF
OTHER PROGRAMS. ABOUT $135-, GIVE OR TAKE, IS PRIVATE HEALTH
INSURANCE. OF THAT, WE WILL HAVE A NET -- NET SAVINGS OF ABOUT $45
BILLION. SOME OF THAT NET SAVINGS WILL ALSO COME OUT OF MEDICAID, AND
THAT WILL TAKE US DOWN TO REPLACING THAT $135- WITH ABOUT $90- SO
INSTEAD OF ABOUT $280-, WE WILL BE SPENDING ABOUT $235- TOTAL.
MR. BARCLAY: I'M GETTING -- I'M SORRY, I'M GETTING
A LITTLE CONFUSED.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. GOTTFRIED: SO WE WILL -- WE WILL BE SAVING
$45 BILLION NET.
MR. BARCLAY: AND HOW IS THAT SAVINGS REALIZED?
MR. GOTTFRIED: AS I SAID, THAT SAVINGS COMES
FROM DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, MARKETING AND PROFIT
ON THE INSURANCE -- ON THE PAYER SIDE, AND A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR FIGHTING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES ON THE
PROVIDER SIDE.
MR. BARCLAY: DOESN'T THE --
MR. GOTTFRIED: PLUS -- OH, PLUS MORE EFFECTIVE
NEGOTIATION OF PRICES WITH DRUG COMPANIES FROM HAVING ONE PLAN
BARGAINING ON BEHALF OF 20 MILLION COVERED LIVES.
MR. BARCLAY: INSURANCE COMPANIES CURRENTLY
HAVE THE -- BY LAW UNDER BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE LAW, MEDICAL LOSS RATIO
WHERE THEY HAVE TO PAY 85, IS IT 85 PERCENT OF EVERY PREMIUM DOLLAR ON
HEALTH CARE; IS THAT CORRECT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, DEPENDING ON THE
INSURANCE COMPANY, SOME OF THEM CAN SPEND LESS THAN 85 PERCENT.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAY ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF EVERY PREMIUM DOLLAR IS THAT
NON-HEALTH BENEFIT COST, WHEREAS THIS PLAN, THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT,
WILL SPEND ABOUT 2 PERCENT.
MR. BARCLAY: DOES ANY OTHER STATE HAVE
SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: IN THIS COUNTRY? NOT YET.
MR. BARCLAY: AND OTHER STATES, I KNOW MR. RAIA
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
REFERRED TO CALIFORNIA LOOKING AT IT, THEY SAY $400 BILLION. WHERE
COLORADO PUT A BALLOT MEASURE OUT THAT GOT REJECTED BECAUSE, IN MY
OPINION, BECAUSE OF THE COST. VERMONT, THE FORMER GOVERNOR RAN ON
SINGLE-PAYER AND THEN WHEN HE GOT INTO OFFICE, HE REALIZED THE COST OF
THE SINGLE-PAYER WAS GOING TO BE MORE -- TWICE AS MUCH AS THEIR
OVERALL BUDGET. WHY DO WE THINK WE CAN DO IT IN NEW YORK CHEAPER?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IN CALIFORNIA,
THE REASON THE PLAN THERE GOT SHELVED WAS BECAUSE THE BILL THAT THEIR
STATE SENATE PASSED DID NOT HAVE A FUNDING MECHANISM IN IT, AND SO
WHEN IT GOT TO THE ASSEMBLY, THE SPEAKER SAID, THIS ISN'T READY FOR
PRIME TIME. THIS BILL HAS A FUNDING MECHANISM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE
CALIFORNIA STUDY THAT MR. RAIA CITED, IT ACTUALLY SAYS THAT THE COST OF --
THE PUBLIC COMPONENT OF THE COST WOULD BE NOT $400 MILLION -- BILLION,
BUT ABOUT $200 BILLION. I'VE SAID THAT FOR NEW YORK, IT WOULD BE ABOUT
$91 BILLION. IF YOU CONSIDER THAT CALIFORNIA IS ABOUT TWICE OUR SIZE, THE
NUMBERS ACTUALLY ARE CONSISTENT PRETTY MUCH WITH WHAT I'VE SAID.
COLORADO, THEIR REFERENDUM WENT DOWN PRIMARILY
BECAUSE -- AND IT'S A PROBLEM WITH REFERENDUMS IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO
OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY CAME IN WITH MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF MISLEADING TV ADS AND SCARED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THAT DOESN'T TELL YOU WHETHER SINGLE-PAYER IS A GOOD IDEA, IT TELLS YOU
WHETHER GOING UP AGAINST A MAJOR CORPORATE POWER IN A REFERENDUM IS
A GOOD IDEA.
AS FOR VERMONT, THEIR ANALYSIS -- ONE OF THEIR ANALYSES
EXPLICITLY IGNORED A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SAVINGS. THEIR PLAN DID NOT
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
FULLY BRING IN ALL OF THEIR HEALTH ECONOMIES, SO THEY LOST A LOT OF
POTENTIAL SAVINGS. THEIR TAX WAS NOT PROGRESSIVELY GRADUATED AND,
THEREFORE, THE AVERAGE VERMONTER WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY MORE THAN
THEY WOULD IF IT HAD BEEN A PROGRESSIVELY GRADUATED TAX. AND, FINALLY,
UNLIKE NEW YORK, VERMONT DOES NOT HAVE AN ENORMOUS CHUNK OF VERY
HIGH TAXABLE WEALTH, BECAUSE IT'S PRIMARILY A -- A TOURISM AND
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY. AND SO, OUR TAX NUMBERS WOULD WORK VERY WELL
HERE IN NEW YORK. SO, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, VERMONT DO NOT GIVE US
ANY REASON TO HAVE PAUSE ABOUT NEW YORK.
MR. BARCLAY: CAN YOU -- JUST TO FOLLOW UP A LITTLE
BIT ON THE PAYMENT FOR THIS. ASSUMING YOUR NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, WHAT
DOES THE LEGISLATION SAY AS FAR AS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO COLLECT THE
ADDITIONAL REVENUE? CAN YOU GO THROUGH THAT? IT'S A PAYROLL TAX, AND
WHAT -- WHAT ELSE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: PART OF IT WOULD BE A TAX ON
PAYROLL INCOME DEFINED AS INCOME THAT IS NOW SUBJECT TO THE MEDICARE
PART B TAX. PART OF IT WOULD BE A TAX ON NON-PAYROLL INCOME THAT IS
CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO THE NEW YORK STATE PERSONAL INCOME TAX,
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS AND THE LIKE.
MR. BARCLAY: HAS THE FINANCIAL SECTOR WEIGHED
IN ON THIS BILL?
MR. GOTTFRIED: I DON'T KNOW. IF YOU'RE ASKING
WHETHER THEY ARE THE FIRST GROUP OF AMERICANS WHO WOULD SAY, YES,
PLEASE TAX MY INCOME; PROBABLY NOT.
MR. BARCLAY: PROBABLY NOT. THEY'RE ALSO ONE OF
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THE BIGGEST TAXPAYERS IN NEW YORK STATE. IF WE LOSE THEM, WE'LL --
MR. GOTTFRIED: YEAH, AND -- AND -- AND THEY
WOULD BE -- THERE -- AS EMPLOYERS, THEY WOULD BE SPENDING LESS THAN
THEY ARE NOW, AND -- AND YOU HAVE TO FACTOR THAT IN, THAT THEIR HEALTH
COVERAGE COSTS WOULD BE DRAMATICALLY LESS. AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE
ANSWER TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS IS UNLESS YOU SAY THAT IT'S OKAY TO HAVE A
LARGE CHUNK OF NEW YORKERS GOING WITHOUT HEALTH CARE OR HAVING TO
SUFFER FINANCIALLY TO GET IT, IF THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, WHAT'S YOUR
PLAN? AND ANY NUMBER OF CONSULTING FIRMS, URBAN INSTITUTE, RAND -
NOT JUST GERRY FRIEDMAN - HAVE LOOKED AT THAT QUESTION AND HAVE ALL
CONCLUDED THAT THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY TO PROVIDE
UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE IS THROUGH A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM.
MR. BARCLAY: I GUESS THAT'S WHERE WE'RE --
MR. GOTTFRIED: NOBODY HAS STUDIED -- THAT I'VE
EVER HEARD OF, NOBODY HAS STUDIED THIS AND COME TO A DIFFERENT
CONCLUSION.
MR. BARCLAY: I GUESS THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD
DIFFER AND WE'RE VERY SKEPTICAL, AT LEAST I'M VERY SKEPTICAL THAT THE
GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WITH -- WE HAVE
10 -- HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON PRIVATE INSURANCE NOW IN NEW YORK
STATE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: AHH...
MR. BARCLAY: DO YOU KNOW?
MR. GOTTFRIED: SOMETHING LESS THAN -- PROBABLY
AROUND 10 MILLION.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. BARCLAY: TEN MILLION, THAT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING. HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE SELF-INSURED?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YOU MEAN EMPLOYERS WITH
SELF-INSURED PLANS?
MR. BARCLAY: CORRECT.
MR. GOTTFRIED: PROBABLY ABOUT HALF, GIVE OR
TAKE.
MR. BARCLAY: THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, TOO.
WITH THAT NUMBER, KNOWING THAT YOU CANNOT -- THEY WON'T BE SUBJECT TO
THE SINGLE-PAYER IN NEW YORK STATE, WOULD THAT SCREW UP YOUR
NUMBERS AT ALL?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, THEY WOULD -- THEY WOULD
ALL BE PAYING THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT TAX, ERISA DOESN'T STOP US
FROM TAXING. EVERY ONE OF THOSE SELF-INSURED PLANS WOULD HAVE THE
CHOICE OF CONTINUING TO SPEND THEIR STOCKHOLDERS' AND THEIR WORKERS'
MONEY ON A PLAN THAT PROVIDES LESS BENEFIT THAN THEIR WORKERS COULD GET
JUST FOR THE ASKING FROM THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT WHILE STILL PAYING
THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT TAXES, THAT WOULD BE ONE CHOICE. OR, THEY
COULD GET SMART AND SAY, WHY ARE WE GOING TO KEEP SPENDING BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS OF OUR MONEY ON A SELF-INSURED PLAN WHEN WE'RE PAYING THE
NEW YORK HEALTH ACT TAX AND OUR WORKERS CAN GET COMPLETE COVERAGE
JUST FOR THE ASKING. SO, YEAH, WE CAN'T OUTLAW SELF-INSURED PLANS, BUT
ONLY, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ANY EMPLOYER THAT IN ITS RIGHT MIND WOULD
MAINTAIN ONE.
MR. BARCLAY: THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED. FINALLY,
54
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
AS YOU RECALL, PRESIDENT OBAMA DURING THE OBAMACARE DEBATE SAID IF
YOU LIKE YOUR PLAN, YOU CAN KEEP IT. IF THIS BECOMES LAW AND I LIKE MY
PLAN, CAN I KEEP MY PLAN?
MR. GOTTFRIED: IF YOU LIKE YOUR PLAN, YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO HAVE EVERYTHING THAT IS PAID FOR BY YOUR CURRENT PLAN PAID FOR.
EVERY DOCTOR THAT YOUR CURRENT PLAN LETS YOU GO TO, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
TO GO. EVERY HOSPITAL THAT YOUR CURRENT PLAN GOES TO, YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO GO TO.
MR. BARCLAY: IN OTHER WORDS --
MR. GOTTFRIED: AND, YOU CAN ALSO GO TO EVERY
OTHER DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL IN THE STATE AND GET A LOT OF HEALTH CARE THAT
YOUR PLAN WON'T PAY FOR AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET.
MR. BARCLAY: THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YEAH.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. RA.
MR. RA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: DO YOU YIELD,
MR. GOTTFRIED?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE SPONSOR
YIELDS.
MR. RA: SO, JUST A FEW QUESTIONS HERE AND I'M GOING
TO START WITH A VERY BASIC ONE THAT KIND OF HAS BEEN TOUCHED ON, BUT,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THIS DEBATE BEFORE AND I -- AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE
55
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
TROUBLE WRAPPING MY BRAIN AROUND THE CONCEPT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE OUR CURRENT MEDICAID SYSTEM THAT COVERS ROUGHLY ONE-THIRD OF THE
POPULATION, CORRECT, OF -- OF OUR STATE, MAYBE A LITTLE LESS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: ABOUT SIX-AND-A-HALF MILLION OUT
OF ABOUT 19 OR 20 MILLION, YES.
MR. RA: SO IF THAT IS COSTING US ABOUT $62 BILLION,
HOW CAN WE COVER BASICALLY THREE TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE FOR MERELY 50
PERCENT MORE OF THE COST?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE WOULD
CONTINUE TO BE DOING THE MEDICAID SPENDING AND DRAWING DOWN THE
FEDERAL MONEY. SECOND OF ALL, A VERY LARGE PORTION OF OUR HEALTH CARE
COSTS ARE IN THE MEDICARE POPULATION; WE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE
DRAWING DOWN THE MEDICARE MONEY. SO, WHAT WE WOULD BE PAYING FOR
WITH THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT IS THE ROUGHLY $135 BILLION THAT ISN'T
GOVERNMENT-FUNDED HEALTH CARE ALREADY. WE WOULD BE SAVING ABOUT
$45 BILLION OF THAT. THAT GETS YOU TO THE $90 BILLION THAT THE NEW YORK
HEALTH ACT TAXES WOULD NEED TO RAISE.
MR. RA: OKAY.
MR. GOTTFRIED: SO, OUT OF THE $280- THAT WE'RE
NOW SPENDING, $140- IS GOVERNMENT SPENDING TODAY THAT WILL CONTINUE.
ABOUT $135- IS INSURANCE-COVERED SPENDING PLUS OUT-OF-POCKET THAT
WILL BE RATCHETED DOWN TO ABOUT $90-.
MR. RA: ALL RIGHT. SO, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE --
YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT AND I THINK WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE ON --
ON THE FLOOR IS THIS -- THIS CONCEPT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE GREAT SAVINGS
56
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
FROM THE FACT THAT THIS PLAN IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT IN TERMS
OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. AND THE ESTIMATE, I BELIEVE, IS 2 PERCENT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
MR. RA: AND YOU JUST MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO THE
URBAN INSTITUTE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPT OF
SINGLE-PAYER HAVE BASICALLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THEY DON'T SEE
HOW IT COULD GO BELOW AROUND 6 PERCENT, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY
THREE-TIMES HIGHER THAN THAT 2 PERCENT NUMBER. DO YOU --
MR. GOTTFRIED: YEAH, THAT'S BECAUSE -- AND, FIRST
OF ALL, LET'S REMEMBER THAT A FEW YEARS AGO, THE URBAN INSTITUTE DID A
REPORT FOR NEW YORK STATE THAT STILL SAID THAT A SINGLE-PAYER PLAN IS THE
LEAST COSTLY AND MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR EVERY NEW
YORKER. BUT THAT 6 PERCENT FIGURE, HERE'S WHERE THAT NUMBER COMES
FROM: ABOUT 36 PERCENT OF MEDICARE IS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, WHICH
HAS YOUR 15, 18 PERCENT, MORE OR LESS, ADMINISTRATIVE COST. ABOUT 70
PERCENT OF MEDICARE IS TRADITIONAL MEDICARE AT ABOUT A 2 PERCENT COST.
IF YOU DO SIMPLE ARITHMETIC, IF 30 PERCENT OF THE PLAN COSTS ABOUT 15 OR
18 PERCENT AND 70 PERCENT OF THE PLAN COSTS ABOUT 2 PERCENT, WHAT YOU
COME OUT WITH IS URBAN INSTITUTE'S 6 OR 8 PERCENT FIGURE. SO, YEAH,
MEDICARE OVERALL RUNS AT ABOUT A 6 OR 8 PERCENT ADMINISTRATIVE COST,
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE ALMOST A-THIRD OF IT IS RUN AT OUTRAGEOUSLY COSTLY
LEVELS BECAUSE IT'S RUN THROUGH INSURANCE COMPANIES. TRADITIONAL
MEDICARE, WHICH IS THE MODEL WE WOULD BE ADOPTING, RUNS AT ABOUT 2
PERCENT AND THAT NUMBER, WHEN YOU DO THE CORRECT ARITHMETIC, IS
PERFECTLY CONSISTENT WITH THE URBAN INSTITUTE AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE'S 6
57
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
OR 8 PERCENT CLAIM, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TRADITIONAL
MEDICARE, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE
EXCESSIVE COSTS OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE.
MR. RA: OKAY. WOULD -- WOULD YOU AGREE THAT, YOU
KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE CAN KIND OF ANALYZE THIS BILL IS BY
LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT MEDICAID SYSTEM AND THEN EXTRAPOLATING THAT
ACROSS THE POPULATION?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, NOT ENTIRELY, FOR TWO
REASONS. NUMBER ONE, THE CURRENT MEDICAID PROGRAM USES INSURANCE
COMPANIES TO ADMINISTER IT. AND, BY THE WAY, THE DSRIP PROGRAM THAT
MR. RA -- MR. RAIA MENTIONED IS GRADUALLY MOVING AWAY FROM THAT
CONCEPT BY RELYING INCREASINGLY ON INTEGRATED PROVIDER SYSTEMS AND --
AND -- AND HAVING THOSE SYSTEMS DO CARE COORDINATION WHICH IS, BY THE
WAY, THE MODEL IN THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT; WE'RE JUST NOT HAVING
MANAGED CARE PLANS IN THE MIDST. SECOND OF ALL, YOU KNOW, THE
COMPTROLLER JUST CAME OUT WITH A REPORT THAT SAID, OH MY GOD,
MEDICARE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS -- OR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS --
MR. RA: OVER $1 BILLION.
MR. GOTTFRIED: -- IN WRONGFUL PAYMENTS BECAUSE
THEY WERE PAYING MEDICAID MONEY FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAD
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE. THAT'S ONE PROBLEM WITH OUR CURRENT SYSTEM.
PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND MONEY TRYING, OFTEN NOT
SUCCESSFULLY, TO FIGURE OUT WHICH PLAN COVERS THIS PATIENT. AND THAT'S
HOW MEDICAID WENT ASTRAY IN THAT COMPTROLLER'S REPORT. UNDER THE
NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, UNDER ANY SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM, YOU WOULD HAVE
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
NONE OF THAT KIND OF WORRYING ABOUT DUPLICATE PAYERS.
MR. RA: WELL, AND THIS REPORT I KNOW JUST CAME OUT
YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YUP.
MR. RA: IT WAS $1.2 BILLION IN UNNECESSARY SPENDING
AND, YOU KNOW, IT -- IT WAS AN ISSUE I WANTED TO RAISE ON THE FLOOR AND I
ASSUMED THAT THAT WOULD BE YOUR RESPONSE, THAT THERE --
MR. GOTTFRIED: YEAH.
MR. RA: -- WOULD ONLY BE A SINGLE-PAYER, SO YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE, BUT --
MR. GOTTFRIED: RIGHT. AND ALSO -- AND ALSO, BY
THE WAY, THAT WAS I THINK OVER SIX YEARS, SO THE NUMBER'S A LITTLE LESS
EXCITING WHEN YOU DIVIDE IT BY SIX, BUT STILL, IT'S WASTE AND IT'S WASTE
COST.
MR. RA: IT'S STILL ABOUT $200 MILLION A YEAR.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YEAH.
MR. RA: THAT'S NOT NOTHING.
MR. GOTTFRIED: RIGHT. I SAID, IT'S -- IT'S STILL
WASTE, BUT IT IS WASTE THAT IS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF A MULTI-PAYER
SYSTEM.
MR. RA: BUT, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING THEN YOU DON'T
HAVE THAT ISSUE, THERE -- THERE STILL, I THINK, IS A CONCERN THAT IS RAISED
BY -- BY, YOU KNOW, A REPORT LIKE THAT IN TERMS OF HOW THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ADMINISTERED. JUST -- JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO
BILL, IT -- IT STILL SHOWS, YOU KNOW, A LACK OF -- OF CERTAIN, I DON'T KNOW,
59
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
COST CONTROLS OR WHATEVER THAT --- THAT WE WOULD HAVE. AND, YEAH, IT'S
GREAT TO SAY, OKAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SINGLE-PAYER, BUT THAT
SINGLE-PAYER IS STILL GOING TO BE OUR TAXPAYERS. SO, SOMEBODY STILL HAS
TO BE WATCHING OUT FOR THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THIS PROGRAM. WE CAN'T JUST
SAY, OKAY, THERE'S A SINGLE-PAYER SO LET'S JUST PAY WHATEVER IT IS.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, AND ACTUALLY, FOR THE LAST, I
GUESS GOING BACK TO ABOUT '05, SO FOR THE LAST DOZEN OR SO YEARS, IN NEW
YORK WE HAVE HAD A DRAMATICALLY RAMPED UP MEDICAID FRAUD AND
WASTE OPERATION BETWEEN THE MEDICAID INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE
COMPTROLLER'S MEDICAID FRAUD UNIT. AND IN THE PRIVATE INSURANCE
WORLD, THEY DON'T DO ANYWHERE NEAR AS GOOD A JOB ACTUALLY AS MEDICAID
NOW DOES IN CATCHING FRAUD, PARTLY BECAUSE NO ONE PAYER OVERSEES THE
WHOLE THING, PARTLY BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES DON'T HAVE THE LEGAL
TOOLS THAT THE STATE HAS IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, PARTLY BECAUSE
SOMETIMES INSURANCE COMPANIES KIND OF LOOK THE OTHER WAY IF THEY'RE
TRYING TO KEEP A -- A -- A TREASURED HOSPITAL IN THEIR NETWORK, WHICH
CREATES -- WHICH CERTAINLY IMPAIRS THEIR ABILITY TO BE TOUGH ON FRAUD AND
WASTE. SO, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY ACTUALLY DOES NOT DO ANYWHERE NEAR
AS GOOD A JOB AT DEALING WITH FRAUD AND WASTE AS NEW YORK'S MEDICAID
PROGRAM CURRENTLY DOES.
MR. RA: OKAY. LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT --
MR. GOTTFRIED: I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ANCIENT
HISTORY, I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
MR. RA: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER REPORT THAT
WAS DONE BY THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE A COUPLE YEARS AGO. YOU
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KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WOULD BE GREAT SAVINGS FROM, YOU
KNOW, BEING ABLE TO BE THIS SOLE ENTITY THAT IS GOING TO NEGOTIATE WITH --
WITH PROVIDERS AND DRUG MANUFACTURES AND ALL OF THAT. IN 2015, THERE
WAS -- THERE WAS SOMETHING PUT OUT BY THE COMPTROL -- COMPTROLLER
THAT BASICALLY SAID THAT THE STATE HAD FAILED TO OBTAIN APPROXIMATELY
$170 MILLION IN DRUG REBATES AND DISCOUNTS UNDER OUR MEDICAID
PROGRAM. AGAIN, COVERING ROUGHLY A THIRD OF OUR POPULATION. WHY
WOULD WE DO BETTER WHEN THIS WAS COVERING OUR ENTIRE POPULATION?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AT THAT TIME
MEDICAID -- THE STATE WAS ONLY DOING REBATE WORK FOR A TINY FRACTION OF
THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, BECAUSE IN 2011 WE GAVE THE WHOLE MEDICAID
DRUG PROGRAM BACK TO THE MANAGED CARE PLANS. EACH MANAGED CARE
PLAN ONLY BARGAINS ON BEHALF OF ITS FEW THOUSANDS ENROLLEES. NOBODY
IS BARGAINING FOR 20 MILLION NEW YORKERS. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO A
MUCH BETTER JOB IF -- IF WE WERE BARGAINING NOT ONLY FOR A FRACTION OF
MEDICAID RECIPIENTS, BUT FOR ME AND YOU AND WEALTHY NEW YORKERS
AND -- AND EVERYBODY IN BETWEEN.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LOOK AT MEDICARE AND SAY IT'S
SHOCKING THAT CONGRESS SAID THAT MEDICARE CAN'T BARGAIN WITH DRUG
COMPANIES UNDER MEDICARE PART D, AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THAT DRUG COMPANIES MAKE OUT LIKE BANDITS UNDER MEDICARE PART D
BECAUSE CONGRESS CHOSE TO BAR MEDICARE FROM NEGOTIATING WITH THEM.
UNDER THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WE WOULD NOT BE MAKING THAT CHOICE.
WE WOULD BE HAVING NEW YORK ON BEHALF OF 20 MILLION PATIENTS
BARGAINING WITH DRUG COMPANIES.
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MR. RA: BUT, I -- I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS
FAILURE TO ACHIEVE THAT SAVINGS IS -- IS JUST, OKAY, THEY -- THEY WOULD
HAVE HAD BETTER NEGOTIATING POWER IF THEY WERE REPRESENTING MORE
PEOPLE. IT WAS A FAILURE TO GO AFTER A COST-SAVINGS AND, I DON'T KNOW,
WE'VE SEEN IN ANY NUMBER OF AREAS --
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL --
MR. RA: -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SO MUCH EVIDENCE
OVER THE YEARS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT GO TO WASTE AND FRAUD AND
ABUSE AND SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE -- WE'RE -- WE'RE
TOO COMFORTABLE WITH -- WITH THAT MONEY GOING AWAY THAT COULD BE, YOU
KNOW, THAT COULD BE SPENT ON SOMEBODY'S CARE.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, AND I GUESS ONE THING I'D
SAY IS THAT THE COMPTROLLER DOESN'T STUDY THE FAILURE TO -- TO GET EVERY
DOLLAR THEY CAN BY INSURANCE COMPANIES OR BY PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFIT
MANAGERS, WHICH OPERATE COMPLETELY UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS AND
NONE OF US KNOWS WHAT KIND OF MONEY IS COMING INTO THEIR POCKETS OR
HOW GOOD A JOB THEY'RE DOING AT BARGAINING WITH DRUG COMPANIES OR
HOW MUCH OF THE SAVINGS THEY ARE PASSING ON TO THEIR INSURANCE
COMPANY CLIENTS. SO, YEAH, IF THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT GET AUDITED AND
HAVE THE AUDITS PUBLISHED IN THE PAPER IS THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, YOU
AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH WASTE AND -- AND -- AND LACK OF TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF SAVINGS GOES ON IN THE INSURANCE WORLD.
MR. RA: WELL, I --
MR. GOTTFRIED: BUT THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, EVEN
WITH ITS LIMITED ABILITY TODAY SPENDS A LOT LESS ON DRUGS THAN THE HEALTH
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PLAN THAT COVERS YOU AND ME.
MR. RA: WELL, I THINK DESPITE OUR DISAGREEMENTS ON
THIS BILL, I THINK IF THERE'S ONE THING WE COULD AGREE ON IT'S THE NEED FOR
SOME TRANSPARENCY WITH RESPECT TO PBMS, SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT
UP.
MR. GOTTFRIED: I HAVE A BILL YOU CAN CO-SPONSOR.
MR. RA: YES, I AM. ONE -- ONE OTHER QUESTION, YOU
KNOW, THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS THIS STUDY THAT'S
BEEN COMMISSIONED THROUGH RAND. DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT'S COMING
OUT? ARE WE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE BY NOT WAITING TO SEE
WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT ARE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, IT'S NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, IT'S THE NEW YORK STATE HEALTH FOUNDATION. YES, THEY HAVE THE
RAND PEOPLE DOING A STUDY. IT'S EXCEPTED OUT SOMETIME LATER THIS
YEAR. YOU KNOW, ANY TIME WE DEBATE THIS BILL, THERE WILL BE SOME
OTHER STUDY THAT'S COMING OUT NEXT YEAR, BUT WE MOVE FORWARD. THE
RAND -- RAND HAS DONE ANALYSES, RAND AND OTHER MAJOR
CONSULTANTS HAVE DONE ANALYSES OF SINGLE-PAYER PROPOSALS IN OTHER
STATES. A YEAR OR TWO AGO RAND DID AN ANALYSIS OF AN OREGON
SINGLE-PAYER PROGRAM AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T -- THEIR CONCLUSION
WAS NOT AS -- WAS NOT AS POSITIVE AS MINE, BUT THEIR CONCLUSION WAS
THAT, A, IT WOULD BASICALLY BREAK EVEN WITH CURRENT SPENDING AND, B,
WAS, AGAIN, THE MOST EFFICIENT AND -- AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO EXPAND
HEALTH COVERAGE. SO, THEY WEREN'T AS POSITIVE IN THEIR LOOK AT OREGON
AND IN A COUPLE OF OTHER STATES AS I AM FOR NEW YORK, BUT, YOU KNOW,
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FRANKLY, IF WE JUST BROKE EVEN AND PROVIDED UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
AND NOBODY HAVING TO GO BANKRUPT AND NOBODY HAVING TO PUT OFF CARE
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, IF -- IF ALL WE DID WAS BREAK EVEN, I'D SAY
THAT WAS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
MR. RA: SO JUST -- JUST, LASTLY, SO OBVIOUSLY ONE OF
OUR CONCERNS AND I THINK LARGELY THE REASON WE'RE HAVING THIS DEBATE IS
THE COST -- COST OF HEALTH CARE, RIGHT? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE -- A LOT OF THIS IS BUILT ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE'RE -- WE'RE
PAYING A LOT TO PRIVATE INSURERS AND -- AND WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT IF
-- IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE JUST TO STEP IN TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE. BUT
WE'VE SEEN EVEN UNDER, YOU KNOW, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THE
CONTINUATION OF JUST SKYROCKETING COSTS OF CARE AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS
SOLELY ATTRIBUTED TO PRIVATE INSURANCE. SO, WHAT ARE THE COST CONTROLS IN
THIS THAT WILL STOP THE CONTINUED INFLATION OF COSTS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: THE COST CONTROLS ARE -- FIRST OF
ALL, WE'D HAVE A SYSTEM THAT UNLIKE PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAS A
REAL INCENTIVE TO PROMOTING PRIMARY AND PREVENTATIVE CARE AND KEEPING
ITS ENROLLEES AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES
KNOW THAT IF THEY INVEST A LOT IN MAKING YOU HEALTHY TODAY, IN FIVE
YEARS YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE CUSTOMER OF SOME OTHER
INSURANCE COMPANY AND THAT OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY WILL REAP THE
BENEFIT OF THEIR INVESTMENT IN YOUR PRIMARY CARE. A SINGLE-PAYER
SYSTEM HAS NO SUCH DISINCENTIVE TO INVEST IN KEEPING YOU HEALTHY.
SECONDLY, A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM BARGAINING WITH
PROVIDERS HAS THE INCENTIVE TO -- TO REACH A -- A REASONABLE MID --
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MID-GROUND IN PAYMENT. THERE WILL BE DOWNWARD PRESSURE BECAUSE
LEGISLATORS WILL ALWAYS BE PRESSING THE PLAN TO KEEP TAXES DOWN, BUT
THERE WILL BE UPWARD PRESSURE BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE HEALTH PLAN THAT
WE AND ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE COVERED BY. AND SO, THAT BALANCE OF
DOWNWARD AND UPWARD PRESSURE IS WHAT WILL GUARANTEE THAT THE SYSTEM
KEEPS ON AN EVEN KEEL. AND THE FACT THAT WE AND ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS
WILL BE IN THE SAME HEALTH PLAN WITH WEALTHY NEW YORKERS, WITH THE
GOVERNOR, WITH PEOPLE WITH -- WITH POWER AND INFLUENCE, THE FACT THAT
WE WILL ALL BE IN THE SAME BOAT AND COVERED BY THE SAME PLAN IS WHAT
IS A KEY FACTOR IN WHAT WILL MAKE SURE THAT PROVIDERS ARE NOT PAID
WILDLY, BUT PAID REASONABLE RATES SO THAT NEW YORK IS A PLACE WHERE
DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS WILL WANT TO DO BUSINESS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RA'S TIME HAS
EXPIRED.
AND NOW WE WILL GO TO MR. BYRNE.
MR. BYRNE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL
CHAIRMAN GOTTFRIED YIELD FOR A FEW QUESTIONS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOTTFRIED WILL
YIELD.
MR. BYRNE: THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED. IT'S ALWAYS
A PLEASURE SERVING ON THE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
BILLS THAT WE REPORT TO THE FLOOR THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR
RESIDENTS. THIS IS ONE, THOUGH, I HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT, SO
I WANTED TO CHAT WITH YOU ON THE -- THIS GREAT -- GREAT FLOOR, THE
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
PEOPLE'S CHAMBER.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE GOAL OF THIS LEGISLATION AND HOW
IT'S REALLY TO PROVIDE QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. WOULD
YOU SAY IT'S ACCURATE THAT THIS GOAL WOULD ALSO, SAY, THAT IT'S TO IMPROVE
QUALITY, ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL NEW YORKERS? WOULD THAT BE A
--
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
MR. BYRNE: -- FAIR STATEMENT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
MR. BYRNE: OKAY. I THINK IT'S A VERY ADMIRABLE --
ADMIRABLE GOAL AND I DEFINITELY LAUD YOU FOR THAT AND ALL OUR COLLEAGUES
FOR THAT, I JUST, AGAIN, HAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS WILL GET US TO THAT.
REGARDING A PRIVATE -- SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN ASKED OR
ANSWERED, SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO NARROW THIS DOWN A LITTLE BIT. FOR NEW
YORKERS THAT DO HAVE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS, DO YOU HAVE ANY
IDEA HOW MANY ACTUALLY LIKE THEIR CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, I'VE SEEN SOME POLLS
SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, 60 PERCENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OF NEW
YORKERS ARE SATISFIED WITH OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. YOU KNOW, IF YOUR
-- IF YOUR CAR IS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT, YOU'RE PROBABLY SATISFIED WITH
YOUR CAR INSURANCE. IT'S JUST WHEN YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE
INSURANCE COMPANY DOESN'T PAY YOU THAT YOU MAY HAVE A PROBLEM. IF
YOU LOOK AT THE -- THE STANDARD CURVE OF -- OF UTILIZATION OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, THE VAST MAJORITY OF US IN A GIVEN YEAR HARDLY CONSUME ANY
HEALTH CARE SERVICES. SO, YEAH, WE TEND TO BE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THE
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IF YOU DON'T SUBMIT A BILL, YOU DON'T KNOW THAT
YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING TO JERK YOU AROUND, BUT IF YOU'RE --
BUT THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF NEW YORKERS WHO DO NEED TO USE THEIR
COVERAGE AND DISCOVER THAT THEY'VE GOT A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR
DEDUCTIBLE AND THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE IS ESSENTIALLY NOT WORTH
ANYTHING TO THEM, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MEET THE DEDUCTIBLE. THAT'S A
LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM. SO, YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HATE THEIR
INSURANCE COMPANY YET.
MR. BYRNE: SO, OKAY. SO, AS ONE OF OUR
COLLEAGUES SAID BEFORE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BALANCING ACT, BUT THE
GALLUP POLL THAT I READ FROM NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR SAID 77 PERCENT OF
PEOPLE ACTUALLY STILL LIKE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, AND I WOULD BE
CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING THAT COULD REMOVE THEIR EXISTING PLAN FROM
THEM, EVEN IF, AS YOU SUGGEST THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE SIMILAR OR THE SAME
OPTIONS, OR EVEN MORE.
MR. GOTTFRIED: BY THE WAY, THE GALLUP PEOPLE
ALSO CONSISTENTLY FIND THAT A THIRD OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE
REPORT THAT A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER IN THAT YEAR WENT WITHOUT HEALTH CARE,
USUALLY FOR A SERIOUS CONDITION, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR IT. SO, IF
THEY SAY THEY LIKE THEIR HEALTH PLAN, AN AWFUL LOT OF THEM MAY LIKE THEIR
HEALTH PLAN, BUT THEY'RE HAVING TO GO WITHOUT CARE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
PAY FOR IT.
MR. BYRNE: OKAY. MOVING ON TO ANOTHER
QUESTION, JUST BECAUSE I DO HAVE LIMITED TIME, MR. GOTTFRIED. YOU
MENTIONED IT A COUPLE TIMES ON THE FLOOR TODAY ABOUT THE MARKETING
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DOLLARS SPENT IN PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS. DO YOU HAVE A FIGURE
ON HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: I'M NOT SURE WHAT PERCENT OF THE
15 TO 18 PERCENT OF NON-BENEFIT COST IS MARKETING.
MR. BYRNE: SO THE REASON I ASK THAT IS YOU'RE
AWARE THAT THE STATE OF NEW YORK SPENDS MONEY ON MARKETING, ON --
WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, THE STATE SPENDS QUITE A
BIT OF MONEY ON MARKETING, AS WELL.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
MR. BYRNE: WOULD YOU ENVISION US SPENDING
MARKETING DOLLARS ON THIS PROGRAM?
MR. GOTTFRIED: NO, JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T
SPEND A LOT OF MONEY MARKETING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE GOVERNMENT
DOESN'T RUN ADS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN UP FOR
SOCIAL SECURITY. THEY MAY OCCASIONALLY RUN SOME INFORMATIONAL ADS,
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO MARKET SOMETHING THAT IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE
FOR THE ASKING.
MR. BYRNE: OKAY. AND GOING TO A LITTLE BIT TO THE
COST CONTROLS THAT MY COLLEAGUE FROM BEHIND ME JUST MENTIONED AND
YOU GIVE A PRETTY THOROUGH EXPLANATION ABOUT -- IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU
WERE SAYING THE LEGISLATURE WAS PART OF THAT COST CONTROL WITH THE
UPWARD PRESSURE AND THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE; IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING, THAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS BODY WOULD BE PART OF THAT COST CONTROL?
WE WOULD PUT A CAP, ESSENTIALLY?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WE WILL BE, CERTAINLY, AN
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
INFLUENTIAL PART OF THE CONSTITUENCY OF THE PLAN, YES.
MR. BYRNE: SO AT WHAT POINT, WHEN, IF THE COST
INFLATES, DO WE SAY WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO EXPAND THE COST OF
THIS PROGRAM, AND AT WHAT POINT WILL PEOPLE BE DENIED OR DELAYED
ACCESS TO THE HEALTH CARE, AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YEAH. WELL, ACTUALLY, DELAYING
AND DENYING CARE, IF YOU LOOK AT STATISTICS OF COUNTRIES AROUND THE
WORLD, AMERICA IS ONE OF THE WORST IN TERMS OF PROVIDING -- IN TERMS OF
DELAY AND DENIAL OF CARE WITH OUR CURRENT SYSTEM. MOST COUNTRIES THAT
HAVE UNIVERSAL PUBLICLY-FUNDED COVERAGE HAVE DRAMATICALLY BETTER
NUMBERS THAN WE DO ON ACCESS TO CARE. SO, I DON'T THINK WE GET TO A
POINT OF -- THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK NEW YORKERS
ARE GOING TO TELL THEIR LEGISLATORS AND THEIR GOVERNOR THAT THEY WANT THAT
TO HAPPEN. THEY'RE GOING TO TELL THEIR LEGISLATORS AND THEIR GOVERNOR
THE OPPOSITE.
MR. BYRNE: SO YOU DO ENVISION THIS PLAN GROWING
AND GROWING AND I KNOW YOU'VE SAID THAT IT WOULD NEED $91 BILLION IN
NEW REVENUE, RIGHT, IN ADDITION, BUT YOU ENVISION THE COST OF THIS
PROGRAM ACTUALLY GROWING BEYOND THAT, AND YOU NEED TO FUND IT.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE SAYING
$91 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE. INSTEAD OF $135 BILLION COMING OUT OF OUR
POCKETS, INSTEAD $91 BILLION WILL COME OUT OF OUR POCKETS. BY ME,
THAT'S NOT $91 BILLION IN NEW, NEW SPENDING OR NEW REVENUE. BY ME,
THAT'S $45 BILLION. WILL THE COST OF HEALTH CARE CONTINUE TO GROW LIKE
THE COST OF BREAD AND RENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, I'M SURE IT WILL.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. BYRNE: NOW, I'VE -- I KNOW I'VE HEARD FROM
CONSTITUENTS, I KNOW YOU PARTICIPATED IN FORUMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
AND I WASN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE PERSONALLY, BUT I WATCHED ONLINE AND I
DO APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BOTH
PRO AND CON ON THIS LEGISLATION. THERE'S BEEN BRANDING OF THIS HEALTH
PLAN AS "MEDICARE FOR ALL." DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT'S AN ACCURATE
DESCRIPTION, OR IS IT, SINCE YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY BEYOND
MEDICARE, WOULD IT BE MORE ACCURATE TO SAY THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF
MEDICAID AND IT WOULD BE MORE OF A "MEDICAID FOR ALL?"
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, I ALWAYS SAY "IMPROVED
MEDICARE FOR ALL," BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT THAT MEDICARE DOESN'T COVER.
THERE ARE SERVICES IT DOESN'T COVER, THERE IS A -- MEDICARE HAS
CO-INSURANCE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS TO PAY. THAT'S WHY WE ALMOST
ALWAYS SAY "IMPROVED MEDICARE FOR ALL."
MR. BYRNE: AND AS I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED
BEFORE BY SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES, THE FUNDING MECHANISM FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU WOULD REQUIRE A -- A WAIVER FOR THAT. IF NOT,
YOU SAID THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER WORK AROUND. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT
AGAIN? QUICKLY.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES. WE COULD RUN THE NEW
YORK HEALTH ACT ESSENTIALLY AS A WRAPAROUND LIKE A MEDICARE GAP
POLICY FOR PEOPLE ON MEDICARE. WE COULD RUN IT AS A GIANT MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE PLAN, BUT WITHOUT A RESTRICTED PROVIDER NETWORK, IN WHICH
CASE WE WOULD DRAW DOWN THE ENHANCED FUNDING THAT MEDICARE GIVES
TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS. IDEALLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
COME TO ITS SENSES AND SAY EVERY MONTH WE'LL SEND YOU A CHECK FOR
WHAT WE WOULD HAVE SPENT ON MEDICARE IN NEW YORK AND PUT THAT IN
THE NEW YORK HEALTH TANK.
MR. BYRNE: SO, FOR THE MEDICARE RECIPIENTS TODAY,
THIS WOULD -- ALTHOUGH I KNOW YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD BE IMPROVED, THIS
WOULD FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THEIR BENEFITS AND WHAT THEY PAID INTO,
RIGHT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: IT WOULD CHANGE THEIR BENEFITS IN
THAT THEY WOULD GET COVERAGE FOR A LOT OF THINGS THEY DON'T GET TODAY
AND THEY WOULD BE PAYING OUT-OF-POCKET DRAMATICALLY LESS THAN THEY
ARE PAYING TODAY. NO DEDUCTIBLES, NO CO-PAY. NEW YORK WOULD BE
PICKING UP THE PART B PREMIUM. SO, YES, IT WOULD CHANGE, IT WOULD
CHANGE ENORMOUSLY FOR THE BETTER.
MR. BYRNE: AND IT WOULD BE EXPANDED TO
EVERYBODY, BUT YOU DON'T -- YOU'D HAVE EVERYONE PAYING INTO IT RIGHT
NOW LIKE I PAY INTO MEDICARE, RIGHT, BUT I'M NOT A BENEFICIARY. I'M A
LITTLE YOUNG FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
MR. GOTTFRIED: RIGHT.
MR. BYRNE: SO YOU WOULD HAVE -- IT WOULDN'T BE
THAT SAME BALANCE AS YOU HAVE WITH THE EXISTING MEDICARE PROGRAM,
CORRECT? WOULD IT BE DIFFERENT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: I'M SORRY?
MR. BYRNE: SO, YOU'D HAVE EVERYONE PAYING
THROUGH THE PAYROLL TAX AND THEIR INCOME TAX, RIGHT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES, ALL 20 MILLION OF US WOULD
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE COST OF THE SYSTEM, JUST LIKE ALL NEW YORK
TAXPAYERS CONTRIBUTE TO SCHOOL AID AND THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM AND
PAVING THE STATE HIGHWAYS. WE ALL PAY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVEN
THOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY OF US NEVER USE THEIR SERVICES.
MR. BYRNE: OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED.
ON THE BILL, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.
MR. BYRNE: WHILE I APPLAUD THE -- THE SPONSOR OF
THIS LEGISLATION FOR GOING AFTER SUCH A LAUDABLE GOAL OF IMPROVING
QUALITY ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY FOR HEALTH CARE, AGAIN, I STILL DON'T
BELIEVE THIS IS THE ANSWER TO -- TO MEET THAT GOAL. CERTAINLY, WE -- WE
WANT TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE, MAINTAIN QUALITY OF CARE, MAKE IT MORE
AFFORDABLE, BUT IF -- IF WE CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE CRUSHING TAX BURDEN
WHEN WE'RE ALREADY RANKED THE HIGHEST TOTAL TAX STATE IN THE NATION, WE
NEED TO DO BETTER. AND WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BILL, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF DIFFERENT BRANDINGS TO IT, WHETHER IT WAS "MEDICARE FOR ALL,"
"MEDICAID FOR ALL," I LOOK AT THIS IS AND I LOOK AT THIS AS "ALBANY CARE"
AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO BETTER. AND FOR THE 77 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE
WHO LIKE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS AND USE THAT AS THEIR WAY TO PAY
FOR HEALTH CARE, WE SHOULD -- WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING CHOICE AND
OPTIONS AND FLEXIBILITY. WE SHOULDN'T BE LIMITING CHOICE. I MEAN,
TODAY'S FLAG DAY. THIS GREAT COUNTRY IS ABOUT FREEDOM, OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHOICE. I THINK WE SHOULD BE GIVING MORE OPTIONS, NOT TAKING THEM
AWAY.
I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE BY ONE OF MY
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
COLLEAGUES ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THIS STATE DOES, WHETHER IT'S
MEDICAID. I SAW A REPORT FROM THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE THAT SAID
THAT WE HAD OVER $1 BILLION SPENT ON MEDICAID, THAT THOSE DOLLARS
SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SPENT, THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT HAD PRIVATE HEALTH
PLANS. AND WE NEED TO FIX OUR ROADS, WE NEED TO FIX OUR BRIDGES AND
OUR SUBWAYS AND I FEEL MAYBE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON THAT AND ONCE
WE GET THAT DONE, MAYBE WE CAN TACKLE HEALTH CARE. BUT BEFORE WE GET
THAT DONE, I'M JUST -- I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT THE STATE OF NEW YORK IS
THE RIGHT -- THE RIGHT GROUP TO TACKLE THIS QUESTION. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. OAKS.
MR. OAKS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.
MR. OAKS: I JOIN MANY OTHERS TODAY IN LISTENING TO
THE DEBATE AS WE CONSIDER THIS BILL, BUT I HAVE A NUMBER OF MAJOR
CONCERNS ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION. CERTAINLY, HEALTH CARE, AS MY
COLLEAGUE WAS JUST MENTIONING, IT IS EXTREMELY COMPLEX, EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT FOR ANY OF US TO GET A GRASP ON, AND CERTAINLY FOR THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DELVED INTO THIS ISSUE, CERTAINLY WE'RE ALL
CONCERNED ABOUT THE COVERAGE OF NEW YORKERS' ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
BUT IF YOU SAID TO ME LET GOVERNMENT DO IT, WE'LL DO IT
MORE EFFICIENTLY AND MORE EFFECTIVELY, FOR ME THAT OFTEN DOESN'T
COMPUTE. AND THE EXAMPLES COULD BE LISTED OVER THE YEARS WITH THIS
YEAR OF WAYS THAT GOVERNMENT DOESN'T DO IT BEST. AND THE OVERALL COSTS,
AND I LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A STATE BUDGET PERSPECTIVE FROM COSTS,
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
CERTAINLY THE SPONSOR SUGGESTS THERE WILL BE OVERALL SAVINGS. EARLY
ASSUMPTION, THE FIGURE OF $45 BILLION WAS JUST TALKED ABOUT. MORE
RECENT FOCUS THAT IT MAY BE MORE SIMILAR COST AS WHAT THERE IS TODAY.
THERE'S SOME OTHERS WHO'VE LOOKED AT THIS WHO WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE
COSTS COULD GO NOT LESS, NOT THE SAME, BUT EVEN $140 BILLION HIGHER
THAN WHAT THEY ARE TODAY. SO, IT MAKES ME CONCERNED THAT WE ARE
BEING ASKED TO TODAY TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT THERE'S NOT CERTAINTY OR NOT
CLOSE TO CLARITY OF WHERE THIS BILL MIGHT TAKE US.
IF YOU LOOK AT NEW YORK STATE, I WAS LOOKING BACK,
THE STATE BUDGET WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THE LEGISLATURE, 1993, $57.9
BILLION. TODAY, IT'S $168.3; IT NEARLY TRIPLED OVER THOSE 26 YEARS. IF WE
DID THIS BILL TODAY USING THE NUMBERS, SOME THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED
BY THOSE WHO SPONSOR THIS BILL, WE COULD IN ONE FELL SWOOP DOUBLE OR
NEARLY DOUBLE THE STATE BUDGET TO NEARING OR GOING OVER $300 BILLION.
IF WE USE THOSE INDIVIDUALS' NUMBERS WHO LOOK AND SAY THIS IS
UNDERESTIMATING COSTS, IT COULD ACTUALLY PUSH THE COST OF STATE SPENDING
IN TOTAL TO OVER $400 BILLION. THOSE ARE NUMBERS THAT ARE
MIND-BOGGLING TO ME.
ANOTHER THING IS I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF WE COME UP
SHORT. THIS IS BASED ON A PAYROLL TAX OF BRINGING IN MONEY. IF WE
SHOULD COME UP SHORT ON THE PAYROLL TAX, DOES THIS BILL OR WOULD IT ADD
MORE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE BACKS OF THOSE WHO PAY PERSONAL INCOME
TAX, SALES TAX -- JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE AS WE'RE THROWING
THESE NUMBERS AROUND. IN THE CURRENT STATE BUDGET, $168.3 BILLION, WE
RAISED $59 BILLION FROM THE PIT, THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX, AND AROUND
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$14 BILLION FROM SALES TAX; THAT'S $73 BILLION. EVEN THE $91 BILLION
THAT'S PROPOSED AS A LOW AMOUNT, WE WOULD BE ADDING IN RESOURCES THAT
-- THAT WOULD COME TO THE STATE WELL BEYOND WHAT THE PERSONAL INCOME
TAX AND THE SALES TAX COMBINED PROVIDE. ANOTHER THING IS FOR THOSE
RATES, WE ARE UNABLE TO GIVE ANY CLARITY. WHAT RATE WOULD THE EMPLOYER
PAY AND WHAT RATE WOULD THE INDIVIDUAL ON OUR PAYROLL TAX, WHAT WOULD
WE BE PAYING? THAT'S CLEAR NOW. OBVIOUSLY, THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO
IDENTIFY I'M SURE AT THIS POINT. THE ONE THING THAT IS CLEAR IS IT SUGGESTS
THAT IT WOULD BE PROGRESSIVELY HIGHER RATES FOR THOSE IN THE HIGHER TAX
RATE.
SO, WE TAX THE HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE IN NEW YORK AT
A HIGHER RATE, A SURCHARGE THAT WE HAVE ON THEM NOW. FEDERAL TAX
REFORM IS TAKING AWAY SOME OF THE DEDUCTIONS AND WHATEVER THAT
WOULD -- ARE GOING TO LEAVE THEM PAYING NET OVERALL HIGHER TAXES FROM
BEING IN NEW YORK, AND NOW IF WE PASS THIS BILL AND CREATE A PAYROLL
TAX, THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO BE PAYING, AGAIN, AT A HIGHER RATE.
SOME HAVE SUGGESTED WITH THE FIRST TAX THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER
-- HIGHER INCOME NEW YORKERS STAYING HERE. CERTAINLY, WITH THE
FEDERAL ONE, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN BEEN EXPRESSED BY THE EXECUTIVE,
BY INDIVIDUALS ON THIS FLOOR; HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THOSE INDIVIDUALS
STAYING HERE? SHOULD WE DO THIS THAT WOULD BE A TRIPLE WHAMMY,
WHICH WOULD GIVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS A GREATER REASON TO PERHAPS TAKE
THEIR RESOURCES, TAKE THEIR BUSINESS, TAKE THEIR HOME AND MOVE IT TO
ANOTHER PLACE.
WHEN I MENTIONED THOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EARLIER,
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
$200- OR, YOU KNOW, $168 BILLION NOW MOVING OVER $300-, $400
BILLION, I'VE NEVER USED THE WORD -- IN SPEAKING ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET,
I'VE NEVER -- I'VE ALWAYS SPOKEN IN MILLIONS AND BILLIONS. I FEAR THAT MY
SUCCESSOR WHO IS GOING TO BE -- AS THE RANKER ON WAYS AND MEANS,
SHOULD WE DO THIS, THE STATE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE STARTING TO BE TALKED
ABOUT IN THE TERMS OF TRILLIONS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE
GOING AS A STATE. I'LL BE CASTING MY VOTE IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: YES, THANK YOU, SIR, FOR ALLOWING AN
INTERRUPTION. I'D LIKE TO ASK MEMBERS OF THE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE TO JOIN MS. WEINSTEIN IN THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM,
WAYS AND MEANS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WAYS AND MEANS,
SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.
MR. ASHBY.
MR. ASHBY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.
MR. ASHBY: I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE,
MR. OAKS, WAS SAYING AND I THINK WHAT HE'S GETTING AT IS MORAL HAZARD.
AND I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A HEALTH CARE
EDUCATOR, A CLINICIAN, A THERAPY PRACTICE OWNER AND A PATIENT OF
SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE THROUGH OUR VA SYSTEM.
IF WE LOOK AT THIS, OVER THE DECADE, JUST IN THE LAST
DECADE, OUR -- OUR VA BUDGET HAS GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY, $93.7 BILLION
IN 2009 TO NOW $198.6 BILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019. IS THIS WHAT WE
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
WANT TO UNDERTAKE HERE IN NEW YORK? I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT
WHEN WE MAKE ANY CHANGES TO HEALTH CARE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COST,
THE ACCESS THAT IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE AND THE QUALITY. AND MAKING A
CHANGE AS DRASTIC AS THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON ALL OF
THOSE THINGS, NOT NECESSARILY THE WAY THAT MAYBE THE DRAFTER INTENDED.
WHEN I WENT TO THE VA LAST YEAR TO GET A BLOOD TEST
DONE, BECAUSE I FOUND OUT THAT A CLOTTING DISORDER RAN IN MY FAMILY, I
GOT MY BLOOD TEST DONE, THEY RAN A PANEL AND I GOT THE PAPER BACK. THE
REPORT BACK SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO RUN THE TEST BECAUSE I HADN'T
HAD A BLOOD CLOT YET. EVEN THOUGH IT'S HEREDITARY, EVEN THE DISEASE IS
HEREDITARY. SO, THIS IS THE KIND -- THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT GOES ON
IN SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE. WHO IS THERE TO ADVOCATE FOR ME? HOW --
HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS? WELL, I'M THANKFUL AND I HAVE THE
ABILITY TO GO ELSEWHERE PERHAPS AND DO THAT. UNDER THIS SYSTEM, WOULD
THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING INSURED THROUGH NEW YORK STATE
HAVE THAT ABILITY? HOW WOULD THEY NAVIGATE THIS? DOES GOVERNMENT
HAVE THE TRACK RECORD OF PROVIDING A SERVICE LIKE THAT? I WOULD
CERTAINLY ARGUE NO TO THAT. AND FOR THAT REASON, MY VOTE WILL BE IN THE
NEGATIVE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. MELISSA MILLER.
MS. MILLER: THANK YOU. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD
FOR A FEW QUESTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOTTFRIED, WILL
YOU YIELD?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
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ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MS. MILLER: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I TRY TO
APPROACH THINGS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A REGULAR PERSON, AND BECAUSE
I TYPICALLY REPRESENT SO MUCH OF THE CHRONICALLY ILL/SPECIAL NEEDS
POPULATION, I HAVE A FEW TARGETED QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT
MORE DETAILED THAN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD BE ASKING, SO PLEASE BEAR
WITH ME IF YOU WOULD.
YOU SAID THAT UNDER THIS PLAN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
KEEP THE SAME COVERAGE AS OUR CURRENT PLANS. SO, LET ME BE SPECIFIC, IF
I COULD. FOR SOMEBODY LIKE MY SON, OLIVER, WHO HAS PRETTY COMPLEX
LEVELS OF CARE. HE, FOR INSTANCE, NEEDS LIQUID OXYGEN WHICH INSURANCE
WILL COVER, VERSUS AN OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR. SOMETHING LIKE MEDICAID
WILL NOT COVER LIQUID OXYGEN. WOULD A SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH PLAN COVER
A LIQUID OXYGEN SYSTEM? SOMEBODY WHO IS TYPICALLY ON CHRONIC
OXYGEN EVERY SINGLE DAY, AN OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR IS NOT REALLY AN IDEAL
SYSTEM.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, THE BILL, OBVIOUSLY, SINCE
IT'S LESS THAN 2,000 PAGES LONG, DOES NOT LIST EVERY SERVICE IT COVERS AND
EVERY PRODUCT IT COVERS. IT DOES SAY THAT ANYTHING THAT IS COVERED UNDER
OUR HEALTH PLAN AS STATE EMPLOYEES, ANYTHING COVERED BY MEDICARE,
ANYTHING COVERED BY MEDICAID, ANYTHING COVERED BY OUR CURRENT STATE
INSURANCE LAW MANDATES, ANYTHING COVERED BY -- COVERED BY WORKERS'
COMP, BY CAR INSURANCE, AND ANYTHING THAT THE PLAN CHOOSES TO ADD
WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE BILL.
MS. MILLER: YES, THAT SAYS "OXYGEN" OR "HOME
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OXYGEN." IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SPECIFY THE DELIVERY SYSTEMS OF
OXYGEN, SO THAT WOULD BE A GLITCH.
MR. GOTTFRIED: AND YOU MAY -- YOU MAY HAVE A
HEALTH PLAN THAT COVERS LIQUID OXYGEN. I DON'T KNOW THE NATURE OF THE
COVERAGE THAT APPLIES TO YOUR SON, BUT I WOULD -- I WOULD VENTURE TO
SAY THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK WHO HAVE PRIVATE HEALTH
INSURANCE WHO PROBABLY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO LIQUID OXYGEN. SO,
AGAIN, THE BILL DOES NOT AND COULD NOT AND SHOULD NOT LIST EVERY
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION, EVERY TREATMENT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THAT
WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE PLAN.
MS. MILLER: WELL, MY POINT IS THAT --
MR. GOTTFRIED: WITHIN THE LAW THAT I TALKED
ABOUT, THERE IS NO LAW TODAY THAT I KNOW OF THAT ASSURES YOU THAT NEXT
YEAR YOUR SON'S COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE TO INCLUDE LIQUID OXYGEN.
MS. MILLER: MY POINT BEING THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT
THERE WOULD NOT NEED TO BE CHANGES IN CARE FROM YOUR CURRENT PLAN.
AND I FEAR FOR A POPULATION OF VERY SICK INDIVIDUALS THAT THERE WOULD
VERY MUCH NEED TO BE A CHANGE IN THEIR CARE.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, YOU KNOW --
MS. MILLER: THE NEXT POINT WOULD BE NURSING CARE,
PRIVATE DUTY NURSING CARE IN THE HOME. CURRENTLY --
MR. GOTTFRIED: BUT, BY THE WAY, JUST BEFORE WE
LEAVE THE TOPIC OF LIQUID OXYGEN, LET'S ALL AGREE THAT NEXT YEAR, YOU
COULD WAKE UP AND FIND OUT THAT YOUR SON'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAS
DECIDED NOT TO COVER LIQUID OXYGEN AND THERE'S NOTHING TODAY THAT NEW
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
YORK WOULD BE DOING ABOUT THAT.
MS. MILLER: OH, BELIEVE ME. I'VE HAD -- I'VE SPENT
MY, YOU KNOW, FAIR SHARE OF BOTH OF MY CHILDREN'S LIVES BATTLING
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
MR. GOTTFRIED: RIGHT.
MS. MILLER: I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT BATTLES WITH
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
MR. GOTTFRIED: RIGHT.
MS. MILLER: I AGREE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE
DONE.
MR. GOTTFRIED: RIGHT.
MS. MILLER: I'M NOT ARGUING THAT POINT AT ALL. SO,
THAT -- WE'RE ON THE SAME SIDE THERE.
MR. GOTTFRIED: AND THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM
DOESN'T ASSURE YOU AT ALL OF ACCESS TO LIQUID OXYGEN, OKAY.
MS. MILLER: AS FAR AS PRIVATE DUTY NURSING GOES.
SO, IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE CURRENT REIMBURSEMENT RATES THROUGH
MEDICAID, MEDICARE ARE TOO LOW AND THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF
NURSING IN THE HOME CARE ENVIRONMENT. WOULD THIS PLAN ADDRESS THAT
ISSUE AND MAKE THE RATES MORE COMPETITIVE SO THAT THIS POPULATION
WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THE COVERAGE THAT THEY NEED AND THE SUPPORT THAT
THEY NEED TO BE IN THE HOME CARE ENVIRONMENT, IN THE HOME
ENVIRONMENT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AS CURRENTLY
WRITTEN, THE BILL WOULD NOT REPLACE WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS ARE IN PLACE
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
FOR LONG-TERM CARE. IT WOULD NOT BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE LONG-TERM
CARE AT THE START, ALTHOUGH I EXPECT THAT AFTER WE GET THE RESULTS OF THE
RAND STUDY THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, I INTEND TO AMEND THE BILL
TO INCLUDE LONG-TERM CARE AT THE START.
SECONDLY, TODAY THERE IS NO LAW THAT REQUIRES THAT
ANYBODY'S PAYMENT RATE, WHETHER IT'S MEDICAID OR MEDICARE OR
COMMERCIAL COVERAGE, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT YOUR SON'S PRIVATE
DUTY NURSE OR ANY OTHER PROVIDER BE PAID AT A RATE THAT IS REASONABLY
RELATED TO THE COST OF EFFICIENTLY PROVIDING THE CARE AND AT A HIGH
ENOUGH RATE TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF THAT CARE. THERE IS NO
SUCH REQUIREMENT TODAY THAT IS A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE NEW YORK
HEALTH ACT. SO, WHILE, CERTAINLY, THE BILL DOES NOT SAY, BECAUSE IT IS
LESS THAN 200 -- 2,000 PAGES, IT DOES NOT SAY WHAT THE SALARY OF A
PRIVATE DUTY NURSE WILL BE, IT DOES HAVE LANGUAGE THAT IN ALMOST EVERY
CASE, I BELIEVE PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF -- OF HOME CARE AS YOU'RE
DISCUSSING WOULD RESULT IN HIGHER RATES OF PAY.
MS. MILLER: SO IT WOULD MAKE HIGHER. ARE THERE
LIMITS TO COVERAGE OR CAPS ON COVERAGE, CARE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: ABSOLUTELY NOT.
MS. MILLER: NONE. SO, THERE'S NO $1 MILLION CAP,
LIFETIME CAP?
MR. GOTTFRIED: NO. NO LIFETIME CAP, NO YEARLY
CAP, NOTHING IN THAT BALLPARK.
MS. MILLER: OKAY. AND DO YOU HAVE ANY ESTIMATE
AT ALL -- AT ALL ON WHAT THE TAX INCREASE WOULD BE?
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MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, AGAIN, THE REDUCTION IN
SPENDING WOULD BE FROM ABOUT $135 BILLION TO ABOUT $91 BILLION; SO,
IT'S NOT AN INCREASE, IT'S A REDUCTION. THE FRIEDMAN REPORT THAT HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED HAS SAMPLE BRACKETS AND RATES IN IT. THE BILL DOESN'T SPECIFY
BRACKETS AND RATES FOR THE REASONS I MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT THE BILL --
THE REPORT HAS A HYPOTHETICAL SET OF TAXES -- OF BRACKETS AND RATES AND IT
IS ON THE BASIS OF THAT SET OF BRACKETS AND RATES THAT WE CONCLUDE THAT
98 PERCENT OF NEW YORK HOUSEHOLDS, OR 98 PERCENT OF NEW YORKERS
WOULD BE SPENDING LESS THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
I CAN GET YOU A COPY OF THE REPORT AND YOU CAN SEE FOR
A GIVEN HOUSEHOLD HOW FOR ALMOST EVERY HOUSEHOLD WHAT THE TAX RATE
WOULD BE IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE COST OF HEALTH COVERAGE TODAY.
MS. MILLER: THANK YOU.
MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: ON THE BILL.
MS. MILLER: SO, AS CHAIRMAN GOTTFRIED SAYS, I
HAVE LITERALLY BEEN JERKED AROUND BY INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR BOTH OF
MY CHILDREN'S ENTIRE LIFE; YET, I DON'T SEE THIS AS AN ANSWER. I'VE SPENT
OVER 20 YEARS BATTLING INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR BOTH OF MY SICK
CHILDREN. I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS CURRENT SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND IN NEED OF
SERIOUS CHANGE. WHAT I LIVE AND HAVE TO FIGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY JUST TO
GET THEIR BASIC NEEDS COVERED IS EXHAUSTING AND AWFUL, BUT THIS DOESN'T
FIX THIS FOR ALL. IT'S NOT FOR ALL.
WE'VE BEEN IN THIS MEDICAID SYSTEM FOR A LONG TIME.
I'VE EXPERIENCED THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE RED TAPE. RIDICULOUSLY LONG
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
WAIT TIMES FOR AUTHORIZATIONS, FOR APPOINTMENTS, FOR THE PROVIDERS TO
GET PAID WITH ABSOLUTELY NO APOLOGIES FOR IT. THAT'S WHY, AS MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE POINTED OUT, THAT'S WITH ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION.
ONCE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED WITH EVERYBODY, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S FRANKLY VERY SCARY. YOU SAY THAT ALL NEW
YORKERS WILL GET THE SAME COVERAGE, BUT, FRANKLY, NOT ALL NEW YORKERS
CAN WAIT FOR THAT CARE. SO, THAT'S WHY I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: MR. WALTER.
MR. WALTER: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE
BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: ON THE BILL.
MR. WALTER: I FIRST WANT TO ADDRESS, BECAUSE IT'S
BEEN MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES, THE FALLACY OF THE MEDICARE COST
BEING ONLY 3 PERCENT OR 2 PERCENT ADMINISTRATION. IT'S JUST NOT REALITY.
THINK ABOUT WHAT ISN'T CALCULATED INTO THAT FIGURE, FIRST, OKAY.
COLLECTIONS OF PREMIUMS. THE IRS AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION TAKE THAT; THAT'S OFF BUDGET EXPENDITURES. HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES COVERS ACCOUNTING, AUDITING, FRAUD, BUILDING COST, ALL
OF THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT OUR PRIVATE INSURANCE CARRIERS HAVE TO
CALCULATE IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE NOT CALCULATED INTO
MEDICARE'S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE'RE IGNORING WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT MEDICARE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AS A PERCENTAGE IS THAT WE ARE
DEALING WITH THE SICKEST POPULATION, OUR SENIORS. THINK ABOUT THIS. IF
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YOU SPEND -- IT COSTS THE SAME TO ADMINISTER A PROGRAM NO MATTER WHAT
LEVEL OF CARE THAT PERSON NEEDS. SO, 30 PERCENT -- LET'S SAY IT COSTS $30
FOR SOMEONE WHO USES $100 WORTH OF SERVICES. WELL, THAT'S A 30
PERCENT RATE OF ADMINISTRATION COST. IF THAT SAME PERSON USES $1,000,
WILL THAT PERCENTAGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE COST JUST DROP TO 3 PERCENT AND
THAT'S HOW WE GET THIS MAGICAL NUMBER OF MEDICARE ONLY COSTING 3
PERCENT TO ADMINISTER. IF WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT A MORE RELEVANT FIGURE,
WHICH IS COST-PER-PARTICIPANT, WE FIND THAT OUR PRIVATE INSURERS ARE LESS
EXPENSIVE TO -- AS FAR AS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS GO, THAN OUR MEDICARE
RATES ARE.
SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COST OF ADMINISTERING THIS
PROGRAM BEING ONLY 2 PERCENT, THAT IS A FALLACY AND THAT IS WHY $91
BILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE TALKED ABOUT IN THIS
SETTING. REALITY IS IT'S MORE LIKE $225 BILLION ADDITIONAL IN COST. AND
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE FOR ALL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDICAID
FOR ALL. SO, GO BACK TO YOUR DISTRICTS AND TELL ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE WHO
ARE ON PRIVATE INSURANCE RIGHT NOW OR MEDICARE THAT WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE YOU FROM YOUR MEDICARE POLICY AND YOUR WRAPAROUND COVERAGES
AND YOUR PRIVATE INSURANCE, WE'RE TAKING YOU AND PUTTING YOU ON
FEE-FOR-SERVICE MEDICAID, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS,
FEE-FOR-SERVICE MEDICAID. AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM WITH
FEE-FOR-SERVICE MEDICAID OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES? IT'S INCREDIBLY
EXPENSIVE AND THOSE COSTS GROW EXPONENTIALLY AND THERE -- YOU JUST
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE'VE
MOVED AWAY FROM FEE-FOR-SERVICE MEDICAID ON TO MANAGED MEDICAID
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH.
WHAT'S THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH FEE-FOR-SERVICE
MEDICAID? IS OUR PROVIDERS DON'T GET REIMBURSED ENOUGH. MOST
HOSPITALS WILL ADMIT TO YOU THAT THEY SUBSIDIZE THEIR COST OF CARE
THROUGH PRIVATE INSURANCE. THAT'S NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THIS EITHER.
SO THOSE COSTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO INCUR ARE GOING TO INCREASE
EXPONENTIALLY. WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS. IT'S INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. THE
AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE RAISED WILL DRIVE EVERY
BUSINESS IN THIS STATE RIGHT OUT THE DOOR. THERE'S NOTHING LIMITING THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT COME IN FOR SERVICES. THERE'S NO
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS OTHER THAN TO SAY, YEAH, I'M HERE FOR -- I'M
HERE FOR CARE. I'M A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK. YOU MAKE THAT CLAIM, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO PROVE CITIZENSHIP, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING. YOU
JUST GET OFF OF THE BUS AND YOU GET YOUR SERVICES. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN FOR MEDICAL
COVERAGE FROM ACROSS THE STATE BORDER AND GOING RIGHT BACK OUT.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE STATE OF NEW YORK CAN
AFFORD THIS, AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE -- OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO BE
MOVED FROM THEIR PRIVATE INSURANCE COVERAGE AND THEIR MEDICARE
COVERAGE ON TO MEDICAID. AND THINK ABOUT THIS: WHAT DO YOU SPEND
MOST OF YOUR TIME IN YOUR DISTRICTS DOING AS FAR AS CONSTITUENT SERVICE?
CUTTING THROUGH RED TAPE. BATTLING WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO GET
SERVICES FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT DOING BATTLE WITH
INSURANCE COMPANIES. JUST THINK ABOUT DOING BATTLE WITH THE STATE OF
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
NEW YORK AND WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS GO THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS
ALREADY. NO MATTER WHAT THAT SERVICE IS. NOW, MAKE IT HEALTH CARE.
FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
HELP MANAGE GET THROUGH THAT SYSTEM. THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T DO THIS
BETTER THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T DO IT CHEAPER, AND
THAT'S WHY I'M OPPOSED TO THIS BILL AND THAT'S WHY I'LL BE VOTING NO.
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: MR. NORRIS.
MR. NORRIS: WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR SOME
QUESTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: WILL THE
SPONSOR YIELD?
MR. GOTTFRIED: CERTAINLY.
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: THE SPONSOR
YIELDS.
MR. NORRIS: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK FOR THIS NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, PROPOSED NEW YORK HEALTH ACT.
SO, COULD YOU PLEASE SPECIFICALLY EXPLAIN TO ME THE BREAKDOWN TO HOW
MUCH THE EMPLOYER WILL PAY AND HOW MUCH THE EMPLOYEE WILL PAY
UNDER YOUR PROPOSED PLAN.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, THE PAYROLL TAX WOULD BE
PROGRESSIVELY GRADUATED, WHICH MEANS SINCE MOST SMALL BUSINESSES
HAVE LOWER-WAGE EMPLOYEES THAN BIG CORPORATIONS, OR CERTAINLY THAT
WOULD BE WHERE THEIR WAGES ARE CONCENTRATED, THE PROGRESSIVELY
GRADUATED RATE WOULD BE LOWER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOR THEIR
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
OWNERS, WHO TODAY ARE PROBABLY STRUGGLING IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET,
WHICH IS THE WORST PLACE TO BE. UNDER THE BILL, THE PAYROLL TAX WOULD
BE PAID 80 PERCENT OR MORE IF THEY CHOOSE BY THE -- BY THE EMPLOYER,
20 PERCENT BY THE WORKER. AND, AGAIN, FOR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,
THEY TODAY ARE PROBABLY STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR
THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THAT STRUGGLE.
THEY ARE TODAY EITHER STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR THE EXORBITANT COST OF
PRIVATE INSURANCE, OR THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING COVERAGE FOR THEIR WORKERS,
IN WHICH CASE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY AT RISK OF LOSING GOOD EMPLOYEES TO
LARGER EMPLOYERS WHO DO PROVIDE COVERAGE. THAT WOULD NO LONGER BE
A PROBLEM UNDER THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT.
MR. NORRIS: OKAY. UNDER THE 20 PERCENT FOR THE
EMPLOYEES, WOULD THAT ALSO INCLUDE CAPITAL GAINS AND DIVIDENDS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: THE -- THERE WOULD BE A SEPARATE
TAX ON NON-PAYROLL INCOME. AND THAT, OF COURSE, WOULD BE PAID BY THE
PERSON EARNING THAT INCOME.
MR. NORRIS: OKAY. NOW, UNDER THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF YOU HAVE UNDER 50 EMPLOYEES,
THERE IS AN EXCEPTION THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO PROVIDE THE -- THE HEALTH
CARE TO THE EMPLOYEE. WOULD THERE BE ANY EXCEPTION FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK UNDER YOUR PLAN?
MR. GOTTFRIED: THERE -- DO YOU MEAN WOULD
THERE BE AN EXEMPTION FROM PAYING THE TAX? NO, THERE WOULD NOT.
MR. NORRIS: WILL THERE BE ANY --
MR. GOTTFRIED: ALTHOUGH, AS I EXPLAINED, IT
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
WOULD BE PER EMPLOYEE, INCLUDING THE OWNER, IT WOULD ALMOST
CERTAINLY BE DRAMATICALLY LESS THAN WHAT THEY ARE NOW SPENDING ON
HEALTH INSURANCE.
MR. NORRIS: OKAY. WELL, WOULD THERE BE, IN TERMS
OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES, ANY TAX INCENTIVES OR TAX CREDITS FOR THIS
CONTRIBUTION OF THE PAYROLL TAX?
MR. GOODELL: WELL, AS A PAYROLL TAX, EVEN UNDER
THE -- THE NEW FEDERAL LAW, IT WOULD BE DEDUCTIBLE FROM FEDERAL TAX FOR
THE EMPLOYER.
MR. NORRIS: OKAY. AND NOW, IN TERMS OF HOW
PREMIUMS ARE PAID NOW IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IT'S USUALLY A FLAT FEE
PER POLICY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING; WOULD THAT BE CORRECT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: THAT IS CORRECT. WITHOUT ANY --
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S A POLICY ON A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CEO OR THE
LOWEST PAID RECEPTIONIST OR OTHER WORKER IN THE COMPANY, YES.
MR. NORRIS: NOW UNDER YOUR PLAN, WILL IT BE A
PER-PLAN PAYMENT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: UNDER THE BILL, THERE WOULD --
THERE WOULD -- IT WOULD BE A PROGRESSIVELY GRADUATED TAX ON PAYROLL
INCOME, SO THAT SOMEONE IN A LOW BRACKET WOULD PAY A VERY SMALL OR
ZERO PERCENTAGE, YOUR -- YOUR HIGHER -- THE CHUNK OF INCOME IN -- IN A
HIGHER BRACKET WOULD BE TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE. A CHUNK OF INCOME AT
A HIGHER BRACKET THAN THAT WOULD BE TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE. SO, IT -- THE
TAX RATE WOULD BE BASED ON YOUR INCOME.
MR. NORRIS: SO WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT IF AN
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EMPLOYER PAYS LOWER WAGE JOBS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THEY WOULD
PAY LESS FOR THE PAYROLL TAX AS A WHOLE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: EXACTLY, YES.
MR. NORRIS: OKAY. AND WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY
THAT HIGHER PAYING JOBS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE EMPLOYER WOULD
BE TAXED MORE FOR INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE TO BRING GOOD PAYING JOBS TO
THE STATE OF NEW YORK?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE
ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THE -- THE DOLLAR THAT PUTS BREAD ON THE TABLE
SHOULD BE TAXED AT A LOWER RATE THAN THE DOLLAR THAT PUTS CAVIAR ON TOAST.
MR. NORRIS: OKAY. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE
QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN. HOW IS "RESIDENCY" DEFINED WITHIN YOUR
PLAN?
MR. GOTTFRIED: IT -- "RESIDENCY" IS DEFINED AS
NEW YORK BEING YOUR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF ABODE AND THE -- THE HEALTH
COMMISSIONER WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE REGULATIONS DEFINING THAT
MORE SPECIFICALLY.
MR. NORRIS: OKAY. AND THEN IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OUT-OF-STATE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME IN HERE
WHO WORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WHETHER IT BE PENNSYLVANIA,
CONNECTICUT, NEW JERSEY --
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
MR. NORRIS: -- HOW WOULD THE OUT-OF-STATE
WORKERS BE TREATED UNDER THIS PLAN?
MR. GOTTFRIED: THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE
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SAME TAX BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE EMPLOYERS AN INCENTIVE TO ONLY
HIRE PEOPLE FROM NEW JERSEY OR CONNECTICUT, OBVIOUSLY. BUT, BECAUSE
THOSE OUT-OF-STATE EMPLOYEES WOULD NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN NEW YORK
HEALTH, THE BILL ALLOWS THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE TO DEDUCT FROM
THE NEW YORK HEALTH TAX WHAT THEY SPEND ON HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THE
WORKER OR FOR THEMSELVES.
MR. NORRIS: OKAY. AND WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED
TIME TO ADMINISTER THE NEW YORK HEALTH PLAN, YOUR PLAN?
MR. GOTTFRIED: I'M SORRY, COULD YOU SPEAK A
LITTLE --
MR. NORRIS: I'M SORRY. HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR
THIS PLAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED IF IT WERE TO BE ADOPTED INTO LAW?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WE DON'T KNOW THAT. I'M SURE IT
WILL TAKE LONGER THAN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDICARE, WHICH AS I SAID,
IN 1965, IT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 11 MONTHS, WHICH IS, JUST TO ME,
MIND-BOGGLING. BASED ON EXPERIENCE WITH NEW YORK, I ASSUME IT WILL
TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET FULLY UP AND RUNNING.
MR. NORRIS: AND IF AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER YOUR
PROPOSED PLAN IS -- IS DENIED A SURGERY OR A TREATMENT, WILL THERE BE AN
APPEAL PROCESS, AND WHO WILL BE PART OF THAT APPEAL PROCESS?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES. THE EXISTING PROCESS IN THE
LAW FOR INTERNAL REVIEW AND EXTERNAL APPEAL, AND THE EXTERNAL APPEAL IS
DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, THAT WOULD BE BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM.
MR. NORRIS: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YOU'RE WELCOME.
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MR. NORRIS: JUST QUICKLY ON THE BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: ON THE BILL.
MR. NORRIS: I -- I JUST HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS MYSELF
ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF
NEW YORK THAT THIS PROPOSED NEW YORK PLAN, IT'S JUST NOT THE PLAN THAT
WILL CREATE A GOOD BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK. IT HAS GREAT CONCERN, IT ADDS MORE TAXES, IT ADDS MORE
BURDENSOME REGULATIONS, IT ADDS MORE FEES, AND WE SIMPLY CANNOT
AFFORD THAT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. AND FOR THAT, I'LL BE VOTING IN THE
NEGATIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: MR.
DIPIETRO.
MR. DIPIETRO: THANK YOU -- THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. WOULD THE CHAIRMAN YIELD FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: WILL THE
SPONSOR YIELD?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER D. ROSENTHAL: THE SPONSOR
YIELDS.
MR. DIPIETRO: THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED. AS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I WAS INTERESTED IN SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE FURTHER THE 80/20 PERCENT THAT THE EMPLOYER
IS GOING TO PICK UP OF THE EMPLOYEES' HEALTH CARE? YOU MENTIONED THAT
IT SAVES THEM MONEY BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE COVERED. CAN YOU EXPLAIN
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THAT A LITTLE BIT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YEAH. IF YOU -- IF YOU'VE GOT AN
EMPLOYEE -- LET'S SAY YOU'VE GOT AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS AT THE -- MORE OR
LESS THE -- THE MEDIAN INCOME -- OR MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN NEW
YORK, WHICH IS, I THINK, ABOUT $60- OR $70,000, TODAY, HEALTH COVERAGE
FOR THAT WORKER COSTS ABOUT... IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 15 OR 20 PERCENT
OF PAYROLL. UNDER THE NEW YORK HEALTH TAX, IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE
ABOUT 6 OR 8 PERCENT OF PAYROLL BECAUSE IT'S A PROGRESSIVELY GRADUATED
TAX.
MR. DIPIETRO: THIS IS -- BUT THIS IS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE TODAY, CORRECT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, IT'S FOR ANY SMALL BUSINESS.
AS I SAID, IF THEY'RE -- IF THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING COVERAGE TODAY, THEN THE
OWNER OF THE COMPANY IS EITHER GOING WITHOUT HEALTH COVERAGE, OR
BUYING IT IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET FOR HIMSELF OR HERSELF AND FAMILY, IN
WHICH CASE THEY'RE PAYING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY. AND IT ALSO
MEANS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY AT RISK OF LOSING GOOD EMPLOYEES WHO THEY
TRAIN TO JOBS WHERE THEY CAN GET HEALTH COVERAGE.
MR. DIPIETRO: WHAT -- WHAT'S -- WHAT IS YOUR
NUMBER PER EMPLOYEE OF THE SAVINGS, SAY PER MONTH? IS IT -- THAT THE
EMPLOYEE IS -- THE EMPLOYER IS GOING TO PICK UP? IS IT ABOUT $400 PER
EMPLOYEE? WHAT WERE THE NUMBERS ON THAT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, AGAIN, IT -- IT DEPENDS ON
THE EMPLOYEE'S INCOME. THE HYPOTHETICAL BRACKETS AND RATES THAT ARE IN
PROFESSOR FRIEDMAN'S STUDY WOULD SAY THAT FOR A -- IF I'M RECALLING
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CORRECTLY, THAT FOR A MEDIAN INCOME WORKER, WHICH IS TO SAY SOMEONE
MAKING $60-, $70,000 A YEAR, THE TAX WOULD BE 6 TO 8 PERCENT OF -- OF
THE WORKER'S PAYROLL INCOME.
MR. DIPIETRO: WHAT ABOUT THE BUSINESSES, LIKE
MYSELF, THAT EMPLOY A LOT OF PART-TIME WORKERS, WE WOULD STILL BE -- THE
EMPLOYEE -- THE EMPLOYEE -- EXCUSE ME, THE EMPLOYER WOULD STILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT FULL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE PAYMENT?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, IF THEY'RE WORKING
PART-TIME, THEY'RE GETTING PAID A LOT LESS THAN A FULL-TIME WORKER,
PROPORTIONALLY, AND THE TAX RATE WOULD BE BASED ON THE AMOUNT ON -- ON
OF THEIR PAYROLL INCOME. SO, IF A FULL-TIME WORKER IS MAKING $60,000,
THE TAX WOULD BE A LOT HIGHER THAN ON A PART-TIME WORKER WHO IS
MAKING SAY, $30,000.
MR. DIPIETRO: RIGHT. LET'S -- SO HYPOTHETICALLY,
LET'S SAY, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S -- I THINK THE NUMBER IS OVER -- WELL OVER
50 PERCENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 52 OR SOMETHING,
DON'T OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. SO, WHEN YOU SAID
LIKE SOMEONE LIKE ME WOULD SAVE MONEY BECAUSE I'M IN THE
MARKETPLACE AT THE HIGH RATE, IF I HAVE 10 OR 12 -- LET'S SAY 10
EMPLOYEES, AND I'M GOING TO PICK UP APPROXIMATELY, SAY $400 A MONTH
FOR EACH ONE, THAT'S $4,000 TIMES 12, JUST DOING A QUICK MATH, THAT'S
ABOUT $48,000 MY BUSINESS WILL HAVE TO PICK UP, VERSUS RIGHT NOW IF
I'M JUST INSURING MYSELF, WOULD BE ABOUT $11,000 TO $12,000. SO, I AM
GOING -- MY BUSINESS IS NOW GOING TO TAKE ON A $36-, $38,000-A-YEAR
HIT, A SMALL BUSINESS. THAT COULD PUT ME OUT OF BUSINESS. SO, I'M
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TRYING TO RUN THOSE NUMBERS. MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THAT.
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY SITUATION, BUT IF A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IS
TRYING TO COVER HIS OR HERSELF AND FAMILY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING A
LOT MORE THAN $11,000 A YEAR. SECOND OF ALL, THEIR WORKERS, WHEN THEY
GO OUT TO TRY TO RECRUIT WORKERS AND THEY'RE NOT OFFERING HEALTH
COVERAGE, THEIR WORKERS KNOW THAT THE SALARY IS WORTH A LOT LESS
BECAUSE THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO GO WITHOUT HEALTH COVERAGE OR
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR THAT
HEALTH COVERAGE. AND AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, YOU'VE GOT A MUCH
HIGHER RATE OF TURNOVER, WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR A BUSINESS, FROM WHAT I
HEAR, BECAUSE YOU'RE CONSTANTLY LOSING PEOPLE TO COMPANIES THAT
PROVIDE COVERAGE. SO, YES, THERE WOULD BE A FEW PERCENTAGE POINT
INCREASE IN YOUR PAYROLL COSTS BECAUSE YOU'LL BE PAYING MAYBE 6 OR 7
PERCENT ON TOP OF WHATEVER THE CURRENT PAYROLL IS. BUT, YOU'LL BE SAVING
MONEY ON YOUR OWN COVERAGE, AND YOU'LL HAVE A MUCH MORE STABLE AND
LOYAL WORKFORCE.
MR. DIPIETRO: THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED.
ON THE BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.
MR. DIPIETRO: WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S PIE IN
THE SKY THINKING, THAT PEOPLE IN SMALL BUSINESS ARE GOING TO JUST
AUTOMATICALLY ACCEPT THAT -- THAT PAYROLL INCREASE. AND I CAN TELL YOU
RIGHT NOW THAT IN MY BUSINESS, IT -- ANOTHER $30- TO $40,000 HIT BY THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS AND THAT WOULD PUT
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APPROXIMATELY 10 PEOPLE OUT OF -- OUT OF EMPLOYMENT. FIFTY TO 60
PERCENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES UNDER 25 EMPLOYEES DON'T OFFER INSURANCE.
SO, NOW YOU'RE MANDATING THAT THEY DO, AND THEN SAYING, WELL, YOU
KNOW WHAT? YOU'LL KEEP YOUR WORKERS. WELL, FOUR OF MY WORKERS HAVE
WORKED FOR ME OVER 30 YEARS, SO I DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM. AND A LOT
OF SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
SO, AGAIN, THAT'S ALL HYPOTHETICAL THEORY, BUT WHEN
YOU'RE IN THE REAL WORLD, EMPLOYERS ARE GOING TO GET WHACKED AND THE
JOBS ARE GOING TO DRY UP. I WOULD PREDICT WITH OVER 50 PERCENT OF THE
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DON'T OFFER INSURANCE, WHEN THEY GET STUCK WITH
THIS MANDATE, YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO SAVE A COUPLE THOUSAND ON THEIR
INSURANCE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PICKING UP ANYWHERE FROM $30- TO
$70,000 THAT MOST SMALL BUSINESSES OPERATE ON A MARGIN OF ABOUT $50-
TO $100,000 PROFIT. MOST SMALL BUSINESSES PEOPLE DON'T MAKE A LOT OF
MONEY, THE MA AND PA STORES, LIKE I AM, THAT'S WHAT THEY LIVE ON. AND
WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE PUTTING THEM OUT OF BUSINESS. AUTOMATICALLY,
WITHIN A YEAR, THEY'LL BE GONE. THAT'S NOT HYPOTHETICAL, THAT'S FACT.
BECAUSE I'VE RUN THE NUMBERS. SO, THAT AND A LOT OF OTHER REASONS, I'LL
BE VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOTTFRIED.
MR. GOTTFRIED: I WANT TO SPEAK ON THE BILL
BEFORE --
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MR.
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GOTTFRIED.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW,
WE'VE -- WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF NUMBERS TODAY THAT, WHEN YOU LOOK
UNDERNEATH THE NUMBER, THEY TURN OUT NOT TO SAY WHAT -- WHAT'S
CLAIMED. YOU KNOW, THE -- THE NUMBER ABOUT CALIFORNIA BEING $400
BILLION, IT TURNS OUT THAT ACTUALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE CALIFORNIA NUMBER,
AND WHAT IT REALLY SAYS ABOUT STATE SPENDING, IT'S ACTUALLY ALMOST
COMPLETELY CONSISTENT WITH MY ESTIMATE THAT NEW YORK WOULD BE
SPENDING, $91 BILLION INSTEAD OF $135 BILLION.
YOU KNOW, WE -- WE DO -- WE WERE JUST HEARING ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESS. YOU HAVE TO WONDER, THE EMPLOYEES WHO'VE BEEN
GOING WITHOUT EMPLOYER HEALTH COVERAGE FOR 30 YEARS OR SO, HOW IS
THEIR HEALTH CARE BEING PAID FOR? IS -- ARE THEY GOING TO THE HOSPITAL
UNINSURED, AND OUR HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS ARE SUBSIDIZING THE HOSPITAL
TO PROVIDE THEM CARE? ARE THEY STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE
OUT-OF-POCKET? IN WHICH CASE, WE'RE REALLY DEPRIVING A LOT OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS OF THE ABILITY TO EARN A LIVING. ARE THEY -- ARE SOME OF
THEM ON MEDICAID? IN WHICH CASE OUR LOCAL PROPERTY TAXPAYERS ARE
PAYING FOR THEIR HEALTH COVERAGE.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASK WHETHER, YOU KNOW, COULD
GOVERNMENT DO THIS? ALL I CAN SAY IS IT'S A GOOD THING THAT IN THE 1780S
WE DIDN'T HAVE AN EDUCATION INSURANCE INDUSTRY OUT PUBLISHING REPORTS
SAYING THAT, OH, MY GOD, IF WE TRY TO HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE TELL
PEOPLE, DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILD GOING TO A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL? WE
WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE. I DON'T KNOW
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ANYBODY IN THIS CHAMBER WHO HAS RUN FOR THE ASSEMBLY ON A PLATFORM
THAT IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE GET RID OF THOSE GOVERNMENT-RUN AND
GOVERNMENT-FUNDED SCHOOLS, AND GO BACK TO HAVING EVERYBODY BUY
THEIR OWN EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IF ANYBODY IS THINKING OF
RUNNING ON THAT PLATFORM THIS YEAR, I'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT IT.
I DON'T THINK SO.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS, AND THEY'RE ALL
CIVIL SERVANTS, AND MY GOD, SOME OF THEM ARE UNION, YOU KNOW, WE
NEED TO GET CORPORATE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND LET EVERYBODY PAY TO HAVE
THEIR OWN FIRE PUT OUT. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY CAMPAIGN ON THAT
PLATFORM.
YOU KNOW, I STARTED OUT BY SAYING THAT EVERY -- EVERY
NEW YORKER SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED, AND THAT
NO NEW YORKER SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER FINANCIALLY TO GET IT. NOBODY
TODAY HAS DISAGREED WITH THAT PROPOSITION, THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER FINANCIALLY TO
GET IT. NOBODY HERE TODAY, OR IN ANY OTHER FORUM THAT I'VE EVER HEARD
OF, HAS COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL THAT MEETS THAT TEST, THAT MAKES SURE
THAT EVERY NEW YORKER GETS HEALTH COVERAGE, AND THAT THEY WON'T HAVE
TO SUFFER FINANCIALLY TO GET IT. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE, IN ALL THE YEARS
I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE THAT
MEETS THAT TEST.
NOT EVERY CONSULTING FIRM, THE RAND CORPORATION,
THE URBAN INSTITUTE, LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT MAKE MORE THAN ALL OF US
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COMBINED AS CONSULTANTS, NOT EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS COME UP WITH
SAVINGS ESTIMATES AS SUBSTANTIAL AS THE -- AS THE NUMBERS THAT I THINK
ARE REAL. BUT EVERY ONE OF THEM THAT I'VE EVER HEARD OF, BY ANY CREDIBLE
STUDY OR CONSULTING FIRM, EVERY ONE OF THEM SAYS THAT IF YOU WANT TO --
IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE, THERE IS NOTHING THAT
DOES IT, OR THAT DOES AT AS EFFICIENTLY AND COST-EFFECTIVELY AS A
SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH PLAN. SOME OF THEM SAY, WELL, YOU'RE NOT REALLY
GOING TO HAVE A SAVINGS, YOU'RE KIND OF GOING TO BREAK EVEN. AND I
WOULD SAY THAT'S NOT AS GOOD AS SAVING $45 BILLION A YEAR FOR NEW
YORKERS? BUT EVEN IF WE BREAK EVEN, BUT NOBODY HAS TO GO WITHOUT
HEALTH CARE, NOBODY HAS TO SAY, I'VE GOT THIS PAIN BUT, YOU KNOW, IF I
IGNORE IT IT'LL GO AWAY, AND I CAN'T MEET THE DEDUCTIBLE, AND SIX MONTHS
LATER THEY'RE DEAD, IF BREAKING EVEN MEANS THAT NEVER HAS TO HAPPEN
AGAIN TO ANYBODY'S MOTHER OR FATHER OR CHILD IN NEW YORK, I'D BE
HAPPY TO BE THE SPONSOR OF A BILL THAT DOES THAT.
AND TODAY, THE LEADING CAUSE OF PERSONAL
BANKRUPTCIES IS HEALTH CARE COSTS. IF THE WORST YOU CAN SAY ABOUT THE
NEW YORK HEALTH ACT IS IT WILL BREAK EVEN, BUT NOBODY IN NEW YORK
WILL EVER AGAIN HAVE TO GO BANKRUPT FOR HEALTH CARE COSTS, THAT WOULD
BE A GOOD DAY. AND WHEN TAXATION AND FINANCE TELLS US THAT 140,000
NEW YORK TAXPAYERS SPEND MORE THAN HALF THEIR INCOME IN A YEAR ON
HEALTH CARE COSTS, AND 96,000 NEW YORKERS SPEND MORE THAN 100
PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME ON HEALTH CARE COSTS, IF EVEN A HEALTH PLAN THAT
BREAKS EVEN MEANS THAT THAT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
AND SO AGAIN I SAY, DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN
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ALTERNATIVE? IF THEY HAVE, THEY'VE BEEN HIDING IT UNDER A ROCK. IF YOU
BELIEVE THAT EVERY NEW YORKER HAS A RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE, AND IF YOU
BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER FINANCIALLY TO GET IT, AND IF
NOBODY HAS OFFERED A PLAN THAT GETS YOU CLOSE TO THAT AT ALL, AND
CERTAINLY NOT AT ANYWHERE NEAR AS EFFICIENTLY AND COST-EFFECTIVELY AS THE
NEW YORK HEALTH ACT -- EVEN THE CONSULTANTS WHO DON'T THINK WE'RE
GOING TO SAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, EVEN IF YOU AGREE WITH THOSE
CONSULTANTS, GETTING THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT ENACTED WILL BE A PRETTY
GOOD DAY FOR NEW YORKERS.
I THINK EVERYBODY WANTS A MAKE A LIVING AND GET TO
KEEP SOME OF IT AND BE TREATED WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT. THE WAY WE
PAY FOR HEALTH CARE TODAY DOES NOT DO THAT. A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM
WOULD TREAT EVERY NEW YORKER, EVERY PATIENT, EVERY DOCTOR, EVERY
EMPLOYER, EVERY TAXPAYER WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT AND ENABLE US ALL TO
MAKE A LIVING AND GET TO KEEP SOME OF IT. I AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN, IN A COUPLE OF MOMENTS, TO VOTE YES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MR. ORTIZ TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.
MR. ORTIZ: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING
ME TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR OF THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THE SINGLE-PAYER PLAN. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE --
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A STEP FORWARD PLANS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY NEW YORKER IN NEW YORK
STATE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLAN THEY DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WHEN
THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITION. PREEXISTING CONDITION HAS BEEN UNDER THE ATTACK IN
WASHINGTON. THE OBAMACARE HAS BEEN UNDER THE ATTACK IN
WASHINGTON. AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE ALL THESE FLOURISHING FROM
WASHINGTON, NEW YORK STATE SHOULD BE THE LEAD, AND BEGIN TO LEAD IN
ORDER TO HAVE A SINGLE-PAYER PLAN IN NEW YORK THAT IS FOR ALL NEW
YORKERS. AS WE ARE STANDING HERE TODAY DEBATING THIS BILL, AND I'M
LISTENING TO THE NUMBERS AND -- AND LISTENING TO ALL THE RHETORIC THAT IS
COMING OUT, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS
THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY ARE THE ONE THAT IS TREATING US, NOT THE
DOCTOR. WHEN WE GO TO THE -- TO THE DOCTOR, MOST OF THE INSURANCE
COMPANY ARE THE ONE WHO MAKING THE DECISION ON WHAT IS GOOD FOR US
AND WHAT IS BAD FOR US. AT SOME POINT, MOST OF THE BAD STUFF IS WHAT IS
GOOD FOR US, ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY DILEMMA. SO,
THEREFORE, MR. SPEAKER, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD THE SPEAKER FOR
BRINGING THIS TO THE FLOOR. I HOPE THAT WE WILL SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF
THE TUNNEL, WHERE THIS BILL FINALLY CAN BECOME TO BE REAL IN NEW YORK
STATE AND GIVE EVERY SINGLE ONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TREATED WITH
RESPECT. AND, THEREFORE, I WILL BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. ORTIZ IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE.
MR. RAIA.
MR. RAIA: THANK YOU -- THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I
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COMMEND THE SPONSOR. HE -- HE IS TAKING A -- THINKING BOLD, THINKING
LARGE, HAS BEEN AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME. YOU KNOW, IF HE COULD
GUARANTEE THOSE NUMBERS, I'D CO-SPONSOR THE BILL. THE PROBLEM IS,
MANY OF THOSE NUMBERS COME FROM AN ECONOMIST THAT EVEN PRESIDENT
CLINTON AND OBAMA'S ADVISORS CALL "EXTREME" AND HAVE NO CREDIBLE
ECONOMIC EVIDENCE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ECONOMIST THAT A NOBEL
PRIZE WINNING ECONOMIST PAUL KRUGMAN CALLED "HORRIFYING." WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT AN ECONOMIST WHO, IN HIS OWN WORDS, SAYS HE HAS A
DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS. IF WE WEREN'T THE TEST CASE, I'D FEEL
A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE.
BUT UNDER THIS BILL, IT WILL TRIPLE THE SIZE OF OUR
ECONOMY -- 85 PERCENT OF EVERY DOLLAR WILL BE SPENT ON DOCTORS' VISITS.
WHEN ME FIND OUT THAT THE PROJECTIONS DON'T WORK, WHERE'S THAT MONEY
GOING TO COME FROM? I'M GOING TO TELL YOU: EDUCATION; IT'S GOING TO
COME FROM OUR INFRASTRUCTURE; IT'S GOING TO COME FROM OUR PUBLIC
PROTECTION. THOSE NUMBERS GO DOWN. AND WE SEE THAT EVERY TIME WE
HAVE A DEFICIT, THOSE AREAS TAKE A HIT.
THEN THERE'S THE PROBLEM OF LOSING OVER 150,000 JOBS.
MAYBE THOSE PEOPLE VOTING YES SHOULD ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT HOW
MANY JOBS ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED IN THEIR DISTRICT BEFORE THEY VOTE YES
AND ASK THEMSELVES, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO TELL THEIR CONSTITUENTS THAT
WILL NO LONGER HAVE A JOB? THAT THEY HAVE TO SACRIFICE FOR THE GREATER
GOOD? WE HAVE 20 MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE. THERE'S
900,000 OR SO UNINSURED. THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE STATE GETS TAKEN CARE OF.
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MEDICAID FOR ALL IS NOT THE ANSWER. I'VE TALKED TO
COUNTLESS PEOPLE ON MEDICAID, THEY HATE THE PROGRAM. THEY HAVE
TROUBLE GETTING TO SEE DOCTORS, SPECIALTY DOCTORS. WE ARE GOING TO SEND
THOUSANDS OF JOBS FLEEING NEW YORK STATE. THINK ABOUT THAT. THANK
YOU. I VOTE IN THE NEGATIVE.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: MR. -- MS. GLICK,
EXCUSE ME.
MS. GLICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. TO EXPLAIN
MY VOTE. WE STAND ALONE IN ALL OF THE INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS BY NOT
HAVING THIS TYPE OF UNIVERSAL COVERAGE AND AN ADMINISTRATED
GOVERNMENT PLAN. WHEN PEOPLE WERE ALL LOSING THEIR MINDS OVER
OBAMACARE, THEY WERE STANDING OUT THERE, SAVE MY MEDICARE, KEEP
GOVERNMENT OFF MY HEALTH CARE. BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THEIR
MEDICARE WAS A GOVERNMENT ADMINISTERED PROGRAM. WE WOULD BE
SAVING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CAN'T QUALIFY AS A
GROUP, WHO PAY THROUGH THE NOSE, HAVE TO HAVE ENORMOUS -- THEY --
DEDUCTIBLES, JUST TO HAVE CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE. WE KNOW THAT IF
PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE EARLIER ON, THEY WILL, IN FACT, BE
HEALTHIER. WE POUR MONEY, IN THIS COUNTRY, OUT THE DOOR AND WE DON'T
HAVE THE BEST MEDICAL OUTCOMES IN THE WORLD. THAT IS LEFT TO OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.
SO -- AND, OF COURSE, LARGE CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE LOTS
OF PART-TIME WORKERS, KEEPING THEIR SALARIES LOW, WE PAY FOR THOSE FOLKS
BECAUSE THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE (SIC). THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK,
BUT THE CORPORATION ISN'T WILLING TO PAY FOR THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS. THIS
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IS AN APPROPRIATE MEASURE FOR AN ENLIGHTENED 21ST CENTURY STATE. I AM
PROUD TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CAHILL.
MR. CAHILL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I APPLAUD
THE SPONSOR, THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THIS MEASURE AND APPLAUD HIS STAYING
POWER FOR CARRYING THIS BILL. IT PASSED THE FIRST TIME IN 1992 IN THIS
HOUSE, THAT IS A LONG TIME AGO, AND I APPLAUD HIM FOR HIS CONTINUED
WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION. AND I ALSO APPLAUD MY COLLEAGUES WHO ON
THE FLOOR TODAY POINTED OUT TO US, VERY ACCURATELY, THAT THIS IS NOT GOING
TO BE SIMPLE; THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY, AND THAT THIS MEASURE IS
NOT PERFECT.
BUT I WOULD ASK US ALL TO LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVES. GO
BACK HOME, YOUR HOSPITALS ARE COLLAPSING. TALK TO YOUR FAMILY PRACTICE
DOCTORS, THEY ARE GOING BANKRUPT. TALK TO THE SMALL EMPLOYER WHO HAD
JUST MADE THE WRENCHING DECISION THAT HE CAN NO LONG -- HE OR SHE CAN
NO LONGER PROVIDE INSURANCE FOR HIS OR HER EMPLOYEES. TALK TO THE
FOLKS WHO DESIGN THESE SYSTEMS AND ASK THEM WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.
TALK TO YOUR COUNTY LEGISLATORS AND ASK THEM WHAT'S BANKRUPTING THEIR
BUDGET. LOOK AT OUR OWN BUDGET, AND LOOK AT WHAT IS GROWING IN OUR
BUDGET, NOT JUST OUR MEDICAID COSTS, BUT OUR EMPLOYEE HEALTH
INSURANCE COSTS ARE GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. THIS BILL DOESN'T
SPEND ONE PENNY MORE. THIS BILL ORGANIZES THE SPENDING THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE.
IT IS A NOT A PERFECT SOLUTION. IT IS NOT A SIMPLE
SOLUTION, BUT HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE FEDERAL
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GOVERNMENT TO COME IN AND RESCUE US? HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE
TO WONDER WHETHER THE HEALTH CARE THAT WE PAY FOR WILL BE THERE WHEN
WE NEED IT? A VOTE YES ON THIS BILL IS AN ANSWER YES TO THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER HEATH CARE WILL BE HERE WHEN WE NEED IT, FOR US, FOR OUR
PARENTS, FOR OUR CHILDREN. I URGE A YES VOTE, AND I VOTE IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: MR. BARRON.
MR. BARRON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, TO EXPLAIN
MY VOTE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A VERY, VERY TIMELY BILL. YOU
KNOW, THERE ARE COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, THIS GOVERNMENT HAS AS 4
TRILLION BUDGET, $4-PLUS TRILLION, YET, LITTLE COUNTRIES LIKE CUBA,
STRUGGLING COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, STRUGGLING COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA
AND EUROPE, ALL CAN PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, FREE, SINGLE-PAYER, FOR THEIR
CITIZENS, BUT THIS COUNTRY CAN'T. NO, I THINK THIS WILL HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES. IT WOULD HELP INDIVIDUALS. IT SURELY WOULD STOP
BANKRUPTCY, OR PUT A HALT TO SOME OF THE HEALTH-RELATED BANKRUPTCY.
THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I JUST WISH WE WOULD JUST TAX THE RICH
ONLY, AND NOT US, LET THEM PAY FOR EVERYTHING, DIVIDENDS AND... AND
CAPITAL GAINS, LET THEM PAY THE WHOLE THING, AND THEN TELL US THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO LEAVE, WHICH THEY NEVER DO. OR SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO SHUT
BUSINESSES DOWN AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE UNEMPLOYED. IT NEVER
HAPPENS. YOU KNOW, THOSE BASELESS FEARS THAT THEY ALWAYS SUBSCRIBE TO
OUR BILLS THAT NEVER, EVER HAPPEN.
SO, YES, CORPORATIONS ARE LEAVING, BUT SOME ARE
COMING IN. THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND IT'S AN IMPROVED
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MEDICARE OVERALL, IMPROVED MEDICARE FOR ALL, AND I COMPLIMENT THE
SPONSOR OF THIS BILL AND I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. MILLER.
MS. MILLER: THANK YOU. I DO THANK THE SPONSOR
FOR RECOGNIZING THAT A CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MADE. I REALLY DO. I BELIEVE
THAT THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS BROKEN. AS I SAID, I'VE BEEN BATTLING THIS
FOR MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE. BUT, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE I'VE
SPOKEN WITH, FROM FAMILY MEMBERS WHO'VE LIVED OVERSEAS, FRIENDS ON
FACEBOOK WITH SICK CHILDREN THAT COME HERE TO GET APPOINTMENTS WITH
SPECIALISTS BECAUSE OF THE ENORMOUS WAIT TIMES WHERE THEY LIVE; THAT
THEY JUST CAN'T WAIT WHEN THEY HAVE A SICK FAMILY MEMBER. NOT HAVING
ANY PROVISION RIGHT NOW FOR LONG-TERM CARE IN THIS PLAN IS, FRANKLY,
SCARY. WHAT HAPPENS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS? I ALWAYS ADVOCATE FOR
ADDRESSING PEOPLE AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. AND THE CLAIM THAT
YOU'RE COVERING OFFERING ALL. ALL, IT'S LIKE FITTING EVERYBODY INTO A SILO.
ALL MEANS ALL; YOU CAN'T CLAIM YOU'RE COVERING ALL WHEN YOU'RE NOT
COVERING ALL. THIS ISN'T SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. IT SEEMS THOSE THAT CAN'T
WAIT ARE GETTING LEFT OUT.
I JUST FEEL -- YOU -- YOU SAID THAT THIS ISN'T A PERFECT
SOLUTION, BUT IT'S -- IT'S NOT A TESTED SOLUTION. I JUST DON'T HAVE
CONFIDENCE THAT IT'S READY YET. I AGREE THAT SOMETHING DESPERATELY
NEEDS TO BE DONE, I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S READY YET.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: MS. PELLEGRINO.
MS. PELLEGRINO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, TO
EXPLAIN MY VOTE. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS A (SIC) HISTORIC MOMENT.
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THE NEW YORK HEALTH IS A LANDMARK OF PROGRESS AND WILL BENEFIT ALL
NEW YORKERS. IT IS THE RIGHT, COMPASSIONATE THING TO DO, AND IT IS THE
SMART THING TO DO. AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC, WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CITIZEN, RICH OR POOR, HAS EQUAL
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
RIGHT NOW, OUR SYSTEM IS BROKEN, AND WASHINGTON IS
ONLY MAKING IT WORSE. HERE IN ALBANY, WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO
EVERY NEW YORKER THAT WE WILL NOT ABANDON THEM AS WASHINGTON DOES.
WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND
BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP OUR DISTRICTS ARE HEALTHY AND
STRONG. THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT GUARANTEES THAT EVERY NEW YORKER,
REGARDLESS OF WEALTH, INCOME, AGE OR PREEXISTING CONDITIONS CAN ACCESS
AND AFFORD THE CARE THAT THEY NEED, WHETHER IT'S PRIMARY OR
PREVENTATIVE, MATERNITY, VISION, DENTAL, HEARING CARE, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
OR REHABILITATION. IT ALSO REMOVES THE HEAVY BURDEN OF HEALTH CARE
COSTS CURRENTLY DROWNING SMALL BUSINESSES, AND HAMPERING ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
BY PASSING THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, MY ASSEMBLY
COLLEAGUES AND I ARE SENDING NOT JUST THE EMPHATIC MESSAGE THAT WE
CARE FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT THAT OUR -- OUR ECONOMY AND
THE GENERAL WELFARE OF OUR STATE IS OUR BEST IMPORTANCE. WE SHOULD BE
PROUD OF NEW YORK'S PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, AND I FOR ONE AM
PROUD OF BEING PART OF CARRYING ON THAT LEGISLATIVE TRADITION HERE IN THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE. I'D LIKE TO THANK AND COMMEND THE SPONSOR OF THIS
BILL, AS WELL AS THE THOUSANDS OF THE ADVOCATES AND THE ACTIVISTS WHO
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WORKED TIRELESSLY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE BENEFITS OF THIS BILL. I
WITHDRAW MY REQUEST AND VOTE PROUDLY IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. PHILLIP STECK.
MR. STECK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
THE COMPARISON HERE IS BETWEEN PREMIUMS. IT'S NOT ABOUT TAX
INCREASES OR INCREASED GOVERNMENT SPENDING, IT'S ABOUT A PREMIUM
CHARGED BY A GOVERNMENT COMPARED TO A PREMIUM CHARGED BY PRIVATE
INSURERS, PLUS THE VERY, VERY HIGH COST OF PAYING FOR MEDICAID THROUGH
OUR TAXES. INSURANCE IS ABOUT SPREADING COST. DO I LIKE MY PRIVATE
INSURER? I DO, FOR THE MOST PART, BUT, THERE'S NO WAY MY PRIVATE INSURER
CAN COMPETE WHEN IT SPREADS COST AMONG ITS OWN SUBSCRIBERS AS TO
COMPARE IT TO SPREADING COST ACROSS 20 MILLION NEW YORKERS.
SOME OF THESE ARGUMENTS REALLY ARE DESPERATE. THIS IS
NOT MEDICAID AT ALL. MEDICAID IS A MEANS-TESTED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE POOR. THERE ARE A LOT OF REGULATIONS, A LOT OF
SUPERVISION THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT TASK, BOTH OF PHYSICIANS AND OF
THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROGRAM. THIS IS A PROGRAM LIKE SOCIAL
SECURITY AND MEDICARE, IT SIMPLY TAKES IN MONEY AND PAYS CLAIMS.
THIS IS A JOB-CREATING BILL BECAUSE BUSINESS NEEDS TO LOWER THE COST OF
HEALTH INSURANCE TO EXPAND. IF HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS ARE LOWER IN THIS
STATE, IT WILL ATTRACT BUSINESS TO THIS STATE.
FINALLY, THERE IS NO COMPARISON WITH THE VETERANS
ADMINISTRATION. THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION IS SOCIALIZED MEDICINE,
NOT A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM. MANY STUDIES SAY, BY THE WAY THAT THE VA
IS AN OUTSTANDING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. THAT'S NOT TO DENY
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THAT IN PRIVATE INSURANCE, THE VA AND ANY PROGRAM, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
HAVE SOME HORROR STORIES THAT CAN BE CROWDED OUT TO TRY AND DISCREDIT
THE VA, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE IN AN EFFORT TO PRIVATIZE THAT GREAT
AND TIME-HONORED INSTITUTION.
I FEEL THAT THE SINGLE-PAYER DESIGNED BY THE CHAIR OF
OUR HEALTH COMMITTEE IS, AS ASSEMBLYWOMAN PELLEGRINO SAID,
HISTORIC. IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. I PROUDLY VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: MR. EPSTEIN.
MR. EPSTEIN: THANK YOU, CHAIR. I RISE TO EXPLAIN
MY VOTE. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN NOW. IT'S
BROKEN FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS WHO FACE
BANKRUPTCIES. PEOPLE HAVE LOST WAGES BECAUSE OF HEALTH CARE. PEOPLE
WHO CAN'T DEAL WITH THEIR OWN HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET
PREVENTATIVE SERVICES. THIS BILL IS A CRITICAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM,
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD STAND FOR
AND BELIEVE IN.
AS WE -- AS THE SPONSOR HAS POINTED OUT, THIS IS GOING
TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY, PROVIDE JOBS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE STANDING HERE. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF
THIS BILL. I'LL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT. I WITHDRAW MY OBJECTION -- MY
OPPORTUNITY.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: MR. GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I THINK
THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT WE, AS A LEGISLATURE, SHOULD BE
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SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING. AND I WOULD START BY THE PROPOSITION THAT MORE
PEOPLE WOULD BE COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCE IF HEALTH INSURANCE
WASN'T EXPENSIVE AS IT IS TODAY. IN FACT, THE COST ELASTICITY OF HEALTH
INSURANCE IS VERY HIGH. RUNNING UP TO 1 PERCENT INCREASE IN HEALTH
INSURANCE COSTS RESULTS IN UP TO 1 PERCENT DROP IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE COVERED.
SO, WHAT CAN WE DO, SHORT OF OUTLAWING ALL PRIVATE
INSURANCE AND HAVING A COMPLETE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER IN NEW YORK
STATE? WELL, WE COULD START BY LOOKING AT OUR OWN LAWS AND RULES AND
REGULATIONS THAT DRIVE UP HEALTH INSURANCE. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS
LEGISLATURE HAS APPROVED OVER $4.7 BILLION, BILLION ON TAXES ON HEALTH
INSURANCE. LET'S START BY TAKING THE TAXES OFF HEALTH INSURANCE SO THE
COST GOES DOWN. LET'S STOP HIDING TAXES UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE
PREMIUMS THAT ARE TOO HIGH.
THE OTHER THING WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ADDED ONE
MANDATED COVERAGE AFTER ANOTHER. WE HAVE NOW HAVE OVER -- NEARLY
60 MANDATED COVERAGES. YOU CANNOT BUY A BASIC HEALTH INSURANCE
POLICY IN NEW YORK. IT'S ILLEGAL. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS
WHO WOULD LIKE TO BUY A BASIC HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY THAT DOESN'T COST
AS MUCH. AND THE SAD THING IS, AS WE'VE RAISED THE COST OF HEALTH
INSURANCE, AS WE'VE TAXED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF IT, AS WE'VE ADDED
MORE AND MORE MANDATES, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT OUR EMPLOYERS HAVE
ADDED HIGHER AND HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES AND, AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU DON'T
HAVE ANY HEALTH INSURANCE UNTIL YOU MET THE DEDUCTIBLE.
SO, MAYBE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE, AS LEGISLATORS,
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FOCUSED ON HOW WE CAN REDUCE THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE SO THAT
MORE PEOPLE CAN BE COVERED, RATHER THAN LOOKING AT A PROPOSAL THAT WILL
TRIPLE OR QUADRUPLE OUR COSTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: ARE THERE ANY OTHER
VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE
TO ASK MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON CODES TO JOIN MR. LENTOL IN THE
SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. CODES COMMITTEE IN THE SPEAKER'S
CONFERENCE ROOM.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CODES COMMITTEE,
SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, SIR. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A
NUMBER OF BILLS UP OFF THE DEBATE LIST. I'LL GIVE YOU THE FIRST THREE THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP FIRST: RULES REPORT NO. 47 BY MR. BRINDISI,
WHICH IS ON PAGE 5 OF THE MAIN CALENDAR, THEN GO TO RULES REPORT NO.
60, 6-0, BY MS. WEINSTEIN ON PAGE 7 OF THE MAIN CALENDAR, AND IN THIS
GROUPING, FINISH WITH CALENDAR -- OR -- YES, CALENDAR NO. 7-5 BY MR.
DINOWITZ ON PAGE 32.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08164-B, RULES
REPORT NO. 47, BRINDISI. AN ACT TO AMEND THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL
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SECURITY LAW, IN RELATION TO IMPAIRMENTS OF HEALTH, PRESUMPTION AND
STAPH/MRSA.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ARE THERE ANY
OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A10479, RULES REPORT
NO. 60, WEINSTEIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE LOCAL FINANCE LAW, IN
RELATION TO THE SALE OF BONDS AND NOTES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE
ISSUANCE OF BONDS OR NOTES WITH VARIABLE RATES OF INTEREST, INTEREST RATE
EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE REFUNDING OF
BONDS, AND THE DOWN PAYMENT FOR PROJECTS FINANCED BY BONDS; TO
AMEND CHAPTER 868 OF THE LAWS OF 1975 CONSTITUTING THE NEW YORK
STATE FINANCIAL EMERGENCY ACT FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK, IN RELATION
TO A PLEDGE AND AGREEMENT OF THE STATE; AND TO AMEND CHAPTER 142 OF
THE LAWS OF 2004, AMENDING THE LOCAL FINANCE LAW RELATING TO
INTEREST RATE EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND
REFUNDING BONDS OF SUCH CITY, IN RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.
ACING SPEAKER PICHARDO: READ THE LAST
SECTION.
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THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE CLERK WILL
RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MR. GOODELL TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, TO
EXPLAIN MY VOTE. WHEN NEW YORK CITY WAS ON THE EDGE OF FINANCIAL
BANKRUPTCY IN THE 1970S, WE AUTHORIZED THEM TO SELL BONDS AT A PRIVATE
SALE WITHOUT COMPETITIVE BIDDING BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE
SELLING THE BONDS TO ANYBODY. THEY'RE NO LONGER IN THAT SITUATION.
EVERY OTHER MUNICIPALITY, WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS ACROSS NEW YORK
STATE, THEY SELL THEIR BONDS AT A COMPETITIVE BID; OPEN, TRANSPARENT,
PUBLISHED AND THEY SELL THE BONDS TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. AND
WHENEVER YOU SET UP A SITUATION WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE OPEN,
COMPETITIVE, TRANSPARENT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS, AND YOU HAVE THE
POSSIBILITY OF MAKING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROFIT, YOU
OPEN THE DOOR FOR POTENTIAL FRAUD, COLLUSION, ABUSE, GOVERNMENT
CORRUPTION AT ANY LEVEL.
SO, THE RATIONALE TO ALLOW THE CITY OF NEW YORK TO
SELL THESE BONDS AT A PRIVATE SALE, THAT RATIONALE IS NO LONGER APPLY --
AND IT DOESN'T APPLY, HASN'T APPLIED IN DECADES. WE SHOULD REQUIRE THE
CITY OF NEW YORK TO SELL THEIR BONDS AT AN OPEN COMPETITIVE SALE, JUST
LIKE MUNICIPALITIES ALL ACROSS NEW YORK STATE DO AND, THEREBY, REDUCE
THE LIKELIHOOD OF FRAUD AND CORRUPTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS A
RESULT, I'LL BE VOTING NO.
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ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. GOODELL IN
THE NEGATIVE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01085-A, CALENDAR
NO. 75, DINOWITZ, WEPRIN, SKOUFIS, GOTTFRIED, ARROYO, JOYNER. AN ACT
TO AMEND THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE IN CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON A MOTION BY
MR. DINOWITZ, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE CLERK WILL
RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: YES, THANK YOU, SIR. I'D LIKE TO TAKE
THE FOLLOWING THREE BILLS UP OFF THE DEBATE LIST IN THE FOLLOWING -- IN --
IN THIS ORDER: CALENDAR NO. 478 BY MR. WEPRIN ON PAGE 67; FOLLOW
THAT WITH CALENDAR NO. 7 - I'M SORRY, EXCUSE ME - CALENDAR NO. 576 BY
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. ABBATE, THAT'S ON PAGE 76; AND CONCLUDE THIS GROUP WITH CALENDAR
NO. 748 BY MRS. GALEF ON PAGE 85.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE CLERK WILL
READ.
THE CLERK: SENATE NO. S05337, CALENDAR NO.
478, HANNON (WEPRIN, GOTTFRIED, CYMBROWITZ, MOSLEY, PAULIN,
DICKENS, DENDEKKER, COLTON, DILAN, ZEBROWSKI, JONES, BRINDISI, FAHY,
HIKIND, RODRIGUEZ, PHEFFER AMATO, DINOWITZ, M. G. MILLER, TITONE,
VANEL, D'URSO, PELLEGRINO, CRESPO, GALEF, THIELE, MAGEE, ORTIZ,
MCDONALD, RIVERA, RAMOS, QUART, STECK, SKOUFIS, SANTABARBARA,
BENEDETTO, CUSICK, KIM, ABINANTI, LENTOL, CARROLL, JOYNER, HOOPER,
BUCHWALD, ABBATE, TAYLOR--A06838). AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC
HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO BODY IMAGING SCANNING EQUIPMENT; AND
PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF SUCH PROVISIONS UPON EXPIRATION THEREOF.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: READ THE LAST
SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 120TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE CLERK WILL
RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MS. MALLIOTAKIS TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.
MEMBERS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
MS. MALLIOTAKIS: I JUST WANTED TO --
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ACING SPEAKER PICHARDO: PROCEED.
MS. MALLIOTAKIS: I WANT TO COMMEND THE
SPONSOR FOR THIS LEGISLATION. IT IS LONG OVERDUE. THIS LEGISLATION IS
GOING TO PROTECT BOTH INMATES AND OFFICERS AT OUR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
IT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT CONTRABAND, BLADES, DRUGS ARE BEING DETECTED
AND IT WILL PREVENT A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM BEING INJURED AND HURT IN THE
FUTURE. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE SPEAKER FOR ALLOWING IT TO
COME FOR A VOTE.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ARE THERE ANY
OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08057-B, CALENDAR
NO. 576, ABBATE, BRABENEC, BRINDISI, LUPARDO, HUNTER, WALTER, B.
MILLER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO THE
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS A FIRE CHIEF IN ANY FIRE DEPARTMENT,
FIRE DISTRICT OR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT THAT EMPLOYS FIVE OR MORE PAID
FIREFIGHTERS.
ACING SPEAKER PICHARDO: READ THE LAST
SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 30TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE CLERK WILL
RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. GOODELL TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
SPEAKER. LAST TIME THIS BILL CAME UP, THERE WERE 53 NO VOTES BECAUSE
IT APPLIED TO EVERY SINGLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ACROSS NEW YORK STATE,
INCLUDING THE SMALLEST VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS. MANY OF OUR
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE WRESTLING WITH JUST HAVING ENOUGH
PEOPLE ON THE ROSTER TO SHOW UP, AND THIS WOULD HAVE MADE IT ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET A CHIEF, BY IMPOSING UNREASONABLE TRAINING
STANDARDS FOR VOLUNTEERS. THE BILL HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN AMENDED TO
EXEMPT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THOSE FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT
HAVE FOUR OR FEWER MEMBERS THAT ARE PAID. AND, AS A RESULT, THE FIRE
CHIEFS ASSOCIATION HAS CHANGED ITS POSITION AND I WILL, AS WELL. AND
SO, WHILE I VOTED AGAINST IT LAST YEAR, I WILL BE VOTING FOR IT THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. GOODELL IN
THE AFFIRMATIVE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ARE THERE ANY OTHER
VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08766-A, CALENDAR
NO. 748, GALEF, SCHIMMINGER, MOSLEY, COOK, GUNTHER, MORINELLO,
LAWRENCE, ERRIGO, B. MILLER, RAIA, MONTESANO, GIGLIO, HAWLEY,
CROUCH, ORTIZ, DENDEKKER, BYRNE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC
AUTHORITIES LAW, IN RELATION TO THE CEREMONIAL DESIGNATION OF THE "BEAR
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MOUNTAIN BRIDGE" AS THE "PURPLE HEART VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE".
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MRS.
GALEF, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE
TO TAKE ONE MORE BILL OFF THE DEBATE LIST, IF I CAN: CALENDAR NO. 829 BY
MR. ABINANTI ON PAGE 89 OF THAT CALENDAR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. -- ASSEMBLY NO.
A01992, CALENDAR NO. 829, ABINANTI, ROZIC, SKOUFIS, CRESPO, COOK,
HIKIND, MCDONOUGH, PALUMBO, SANTABARBARA, HOOPER, ZEBROWSKI,
GOTTFRIED, STECK, SIMON, MOSLEY, JAFFEE, BARRON, BLAKE, SOLAGES,
CAHILL, COLTON, BRABENEC, ENGLEBRIGHT, WEPRIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE
TRANSPORTATION LAW, IN RELATION TO THE CREATION OF A TOLL-FREE HOTLINE
AND A WEBSITE WHERE MOTORISTS CAN REPORT POTHOLES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
ABINANTI, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 120TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MR. FITZPATRICK TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.
MR. FITZPATRICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON
BEHALF OF MR. ABINANTI, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION, WHICH HE HAS WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON
AND LOOKS FORWARD TO A GREAT SUCCESS FOR OUR MOTORISTS WHO TRAVERSE THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. THANK YOU.
(LAUGHTER)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WELL, THAT CHANGED
MY VOTE.
(LAUGHTER)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: I DO WANT TO, MR. SPEAKER, THANK
MR. ABINANTI FOR EXERCISING RESTRAINT DURING THAT ROLL CALL.
(LAUGHTER)
WE SHOULD ALL MODEL OURSELVES AFTER HIM.
(LAUGHTER)
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE CONSENTING, SIR, BEGINNING ON PAGE
16 OF THE MAIN CALENDAR, RULES REPORT NO. 164 BY MS. SIMOTAS.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08401-C, RULES
REPORT NO. 164, SIMOTAS, OTIS, DINOWITZ, DICKENS, QUART, DE LA ROSA,
NIOU, RIVERA, MOSLEY, BARRON, MCDONALD, ZEBROWSKI, CROUCH, SIMON,
GOTTFRIED, CAHILL, GIGLIO, HEVESI, PELLEGRINO, GALEF, GLICK, WEPRIN, L.
ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW AND THE EXECUTIVE
LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING A SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM BILL OF RIGHTS;
AND TO AMEND THE EXECUTIVE LAW, IN RELATION TO MAINTENANCE OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT EVIDENCE, ESTABLISHING A VICTIM'S RIGHT TO NOTICE PRIOR TO
DESTRUCTION.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08402-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 165, ABBATE, COLTON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE RETIREMENT AND
SOCIAL SECURITY LAW, IN RELATION TO TRANSFER OF RETIREMENT MEMBERSHIP
FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF SUNY WITHIN THE PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND
119
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
TECHNICAL BARGAINING UNIT.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08686-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 166, BARNWELL, DICKENS, VANEL, WEPRIN, WILLIAMS, CRESPO,
HEVESI, SIMOTAS, LAVINE, SEAWRIGHT, QUART, TAYLOR. AN ACT TO
ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS THE "NEW YORK SEAWALL STUDY
COMMISSION"; AND PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF SUCH PROVISIONS UPON
EXPIRATION THEREOF.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MR. BARNWELL TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE AS LONG AS THE WALL IS GOING TO BE.
MR. BARNWELL: NO.
(LAUGHTER)
I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THANK YOU TO CHAIRMAN ENGLEBRIGHT FOR HELPING ME PASS THIS BILL, AND
HIS STAFF, WHICH WAS -- WHICH WERE GREAT. SO, JUST SO -- I KNOW I HAVE
TWO MINUTES. SO, TO SHOW HOW IMPORTANT A SEAWALL IS, IN GALVESTON,
TEXAS IN 1900, IT WAS A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE THAT STRUCK -- THAT STRUCK
THE -- THE ISLAND. AND THERE WAS NOT A SEAWALL THERE AT THAT POINT.
EIGHT THOUSAND TO 12,000 PEOPLE PERISHED. OKAY? THAT WAS THE -- THE
WORST NATIONAL DISASTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES IN REGARD TO
PEOPLE DYING. A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE STRUCK THERE IN 1915 AFTER THEY
BUILT THE SEAWALL, 53 PEOPLE DIED. NOW, WHILE THAT'S TRAGIC, COMPARED
TO THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S -- IT SHOWED THE
SEAWALL DID -- DID ITS -- DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. SO, THIS BILL
WILL STUDY WHERE WE SHOULD PUT A SEAWALL IN NEW YORK CITY, AND THAT'S
REALLY IT. SO, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I -- I
DON'T WANT HEVESI'S VOTE, SO THAT'S OKAY.
(LAUGHTER)
BUT EVERYONE ELSE, PLEASE VOTE FOR THE BILL. THANK
YOU.
(LAUGHTER)
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: MR. HEVESI TO EXPLAIN
HIS VOTE.
(LAUGHTER/APPLAUSE)
MR. HEVESI: WILL MR. BARNWELL YIELD FOR 12
QUESTIONS?
(LAUGHTER)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: INAPPROPRIATE. SIT
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
DOWN.
(LAUGHTER)
MR. HEVESI: THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. MALLIOTAKIS TO
EXPLAIN HER VOTE.
MS. MALLIOTAKIS: I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT
SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE IN SUPPORT OF BUILDING
A WALL. THANK YOU.
(LAUGHTER/BOOS)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RAIA TO EXPLAIN
HIS VOTE.
MR. RAIA: I'M ACTUALLY NOT GOING TO MAKE A JOKE
HERE. IF YOU BUILD -- IF YOU BUILD A WALL ACROSS MANHATTAN, THAT WATER'S
GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE, AND I KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO, ALL OVER LONG
ISLAND. SO, I WOULD HOPE THAT ANY STUDY THAT TAKES PLACE WILL TAKE A
LOOK AT THE ANCILLARY EFFECTS ON WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO LONG ISLAND.
THANK YOU. BUT I WILL VOTE YES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RAIA IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08704-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 167, MAGNARELLI, BRAUNSTEIN, TAYLOR, GUNTHER,
SANTABARBARA, D'URSO, HUNTER, COOK, LAVINE, DENDEKKER. AN ACT TO
122
NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
AMEND TO AMOUNT THE STATE LAW, IN RELATION TO DESIGNATING "HERE RESTS
IN HONORED GLORY" THE OFFICIAL STATE HYMN OF REMEMBRANCE IN HONOR
OF ALL AMERICAN VETERANS.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MR. CASTORINA TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.
MR. CASTORINA: ACTUALLY, WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD,
MR. SPEAKER?
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: TOO LATE FOR THAT, MR.
CASTORINA, ONLY CAN YOU EXPLAIN.
MR. CASTORINA: I WAS -- WELL, I WAS JUST HOPING
THAT MR. MAGNARELLI COULD HUM A FEW BARS, BECAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR
WITH THE SONG.
(LAUGHTER)
THANK YOU.
(LAUGHTER)
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: MR. CASTORINA IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08705-A, RULES
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
REPORT NO. 168, CUSICK, SEAWRIGHT. AN ACT TO AMEND THE BANKING
LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING A NOTICE TO BE POSTED ON ALL AUTOMATED
TELLER MACHINES REGARDING SKIMMING.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08743-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 169, PHEFFER AMATO, M. G. MILLER, D'URSO, JONES, WEPRIN,
M. L. MILLER, HYNDMAN, D. ROSENTHAL, DENDEKKER, B. MILLER, ROZIC,
CARROLL, QUART, HEVESI, BARNWELL, BRAUNSTEIN, CUSICK, SIMOTAS, TITONE,
VANEL, AUBRY, TITUS, COOK. AN ACT IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING THE
IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION OF A FARE, TOLL, RENTAL, RATE, CHARGE OR OTHER
FEE ON THE CROSS BAY VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MS. PHEFFER AMATO TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.
MS. PHEFFER AMATO: THANK YOU -- IS IT ON?
OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS TO END THE INEQUITABLE,
UNJUSTIFIED AND UNDENIABLY BURDENSOME TOLL ON THE CROSS BAY VETERANS
MEMORIAL BRIDGE, A BRIDGE THAT RUNS DIRECTLY THROUGH MY ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT, AND THE ONLY TOLLED INTERBOROUGH, INTERCOUNTY BRIDGE IN OUR
STATE. THE CROSS BAY VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE CARRIES THE CROSS
BAY BOULEVARD THROUGH BROAD CHANNEL AND JAMAICA BAY TO THE
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
ROCKAWAY PENINSULA. BOTH SITES -- BOTH SIT IN THE BOROUGH OF QUEENS.
THE TOLL ON THE CROSS BAY BRIDGE WAS IMPLEMENTED ONLY TO COVER THE
COST OF CONSTRUCTION, AND AT THAT TIME STARTED AT 10 CENTS PER TRIP. THE
TOLL -- TOLL HAS SINCE GROWN TO $4.25 PER TRIP. QUEENS RESIDENTS ARE
REQUIRED TO PAY THE TOLL SEVERAL TIMES A DAY IN ORDER -- IN ORDER TO GO TO
AND FROM WORK, TO THEIR LOCAL PRECINCTS, TRANSPORT CHILDREN BACK AND
FORTH TO SCHOOL, AND DO YOUR EVERYDAY ERRANDS, AND ESPECIALLY TO GO TO
THE BEACH.
THIS TOLL DIVIDES OUR COMMUNITY. IT ARTIFICIALLY
CREATES AN ECONOMIC BARRIER. IT HAMPERS TOURISM, AND KEEPS THE AREAS
MOST IMPACTED BY SUPERSTORM SANDY FROM HAVING A FULL AND THOROUGH
ECONOMIC RECOVERY. THIS TOLL HAS OUTLIVED ITS ORIGINAL STATED PURPOSE
OF PAYING FOR THE BRIDGE, AND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO PURPOSE, BESIDES
SUPPLEMENTING THE MTA BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF HARD-WORKING QUEENS
FAMILIES. I AM CERTAIN THE COST OF ENDING THIS TOLL WOULD BE MADE UP
SEVERAL TIMES OVER WITH THE FREEDOM AND EASE AND THE ACCESS THAT
WOULD BRING TO THE SOUTH QUEENS COMMUNITIES AND THE ROCKAWAY
PENINSULA. ELIMINATING THIS TOLL ON THIS BRIDGE IS NOW -- THE TIME IS
NOW TO DO THIS. I AM NOT THE FIRST TO TAKE THIS STEP, BUT I HOPE TO BE THE
LAST. IT IS INEQUITABLE FOR MY COMMUNITY, AND I APPRECIATE THIS
CHAMBER'S SUPPORT. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. PHEFFER AMATO
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08798-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 170, QUART. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW,
IN RELATION TO ORDERS OF ADJOURNMENT IN CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL AND
SEALING OF DEFENDANT RECORDS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08869, RULES REPORT
NO. 171, THIELE, TITONE, ZEBROWSKI, PELLEGRINO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE
PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO ENERGY CONSERVATION AND LOST
REVENUES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08881, CALENDAR 1 --
RULES REPORT NO. 172, MAGNARELLI, MCDONALD, SANTABARBARA. AND ACT
TO AMEND THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW, IN RELATION TO THE
EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF THE REAL PROPERTY OF A LAND
BANK.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
MAGNARELLI, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08888-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 173, GUNTHER, JAFFEE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE MENTAL
HYGIENE LAW, IN RELATION TO TELEPSYCHIATRY.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08983, RULES REPORT
NO. 174, D'URSO, WILLIAMS, COOK, ERRIGO, GALEF. AN ACT TO AMEND THE
VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, IN RELATION TO TIRE SAFETY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A09010, RULES REPORT
NO. 175, ABBATE, WEPRIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL
SECURITY LAW, IN RELATION TO DISABILITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR SHERIFFS,
DEPUTY SHERIFFS, UNDERSHERIFFS, AND CORRECTION OFFICERS IN NASSAU
COUNTY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
ABBATE, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A09540-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 176, RYAN. AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY OF ERIE TO OFFER
AN OPTIONAL 20-YEAR RETIREMENT PLAN TO CERTAIN DEPUTY SHERIFFS
EMPLOYED BY SUCH COUNTY.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
RYAN, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS ADVANCED
AND THE HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A09596-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 177, WEINSTEIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION
TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITIES BY MEANS OF THE
SUSPENSION OF LICENSES TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A09627, RULES REPORT
NO. 178, DINOWITZ, DE LA ROSA. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC
AUTHORITIES LAW, IN RELATION TO ALLOWING TWO AUTOMATIC FREE TRANSFERS
FOR RIDERS USING PAY-PER-RIDE METROCARDS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
ON A MOTION BY MR. DINOWITZ, THE SENATE BILL IS
BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS ADVANCED. THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A09651-B, RULES
REPORT NO. 179, CUSICK, SIMOTAS, PELLEGRINO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE
REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW, IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING AN EXEMPTION FROM
TAXATION FOR CERTAIN ENERGY SYSTEMS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT MARCH 1ST,
2019.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A10082-B, RULES
REPORT NO. 180, TITONE, JEAN-PIERRE, D'URSO, MOSLEY, L. ROSENTHAL,
ENGLEBRIGHT, ORTIZ, M. G. MILLER, DINOWITZ, RA, MONTESANO, MURRAY,
MCDONOUGH, NIOU, GUNTHER, WILLIAMS, WEPRIN, COLTON, NORRIS,
BYRNE, GLICK, BLAKE, COOK, SKOUFIS, BRABENEC, O'DONNELL, WOERNER,
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
DAVILA, GALEF, SANTABARBARA. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS
LAW, IN RELATION TO CERTAIN LEASE AGREEMENTS CONCERNING DOGS AND CATS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
TITONE, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A10193-B, RULES
REPORT NO. 181, HUNTER, BARRON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE MULTIPLE
RESIDENCE LAW, IN RELATION TO UNLAWFUL OCCUPATION.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. 10198-A, RULES REPORT
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
NO. 182, PELLEGRINO, SEAWRIGHT, BARRON, LAVINE, RAIA. AN ACT
DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO STUDY THE WEIGHT
LIMITATIONS FOR FIRE VEHICLES WITH PNEUMATIC TIRES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A10251, RULES REPORT
NO. 183, MCDONALD. AN ACT TO AMEND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF
COHOES, IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY, TO OFFER CERTAIN RETIREMENT OPTIONS TO
POLICE OFFICER JEFFREY BRESSETTE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: HOME RULE MESSAGE
IS AT THE DESK. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A10311-B, RULES
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
REPORT NO. 184, WALLACE. AN ACT DIRECTING THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES TO DEVELOP A
PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SKILLS REQUIRED AS PART OF THE FIREFIGHTER
CERTIFICATION, OR THE FIREFIGHTER RECRUIT I AND II CERTIFICATIONS, WHICH
CAN BE COMPLETED AT A TRAINEE'S HOME DEPARTMENT OR ONLINE.
ACTING CLERK AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH
DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESKS AN A-CALENDAR. I NOW MOVE TO ADVANCE
THE A-CALENDAR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON MR. MORELLE'S
MOTION, THE A-CALENDAR IS ADVANCED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: YES, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D
LIKE TO DIRECTLY TAKE UP RULES REPORT NO. 228 BY MR. SKOUFIS ON PAGE
5 OF THE A-CALENDAR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A09969-A, RULES
REPORT NO. 228, SKOUFIS, BRABENEC. AN ACT IN RELATION TO THE
FORMATION AND -- OF AND ELECTIONS IN NEW TOWNS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MR.
SKOUFIS, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK. READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION TODAY. I DO NOTE A
COUPLE OF THINGS, JUST FOR PEOPLE'S EDIFICATION. NEXT WEEK WILL BE LONG
DAYS, LONG NIGHTS, SO BE PREPARED. THE FEWER QUESTIONS I GET ABOUT
WHAT TIME WE'RE LEAVING WILL BE BETTER FOR MY PSYCHE NEXT WEEK.
(LAUGHTER)
AND FOR ALL OF YOU, I'M SURE, AS WELL.
(LAUGHTER)
I -- I DO NOTE THAT NEITHER MR. CROUCH NOR MR. OTIS
HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE THIS AFTERNOON. BUT -- BUT, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE. IN JUST A MOMENT, MR. SPEAKER, I
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
WOULD ASK FOR ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING AND RESOLUTIONS. BUT BEFORE I
DO THAT, THERE IS A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION BY MS. SOLAGES, AND I
UNDERSTAND A NUMBER OF MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT. SO, IF YOU
WOULD PUT THAT UP ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1376, MS.
SOLAGES. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING JUNE 14TH, 2018 AS
FLAG DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. SOLAGES ON THE
RESOLUTION.
MR. BARRON ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. BARRON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE ON THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION -- MR. SPEAKER, COULD WE GET SOME...
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN, SHH.
MR. BARRON: I RISE TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION
BECAUSE MANY AMERICANS WERE QUICK TO POINT OUT THE RACISM IN THE
CONFEDERATE FLAG, BUT THEY FAIL TO POINT OUT THE RACISM IN THE AMERICAN
FLAG.
(BOOS)
IT HAS AFFECTED MANY OF US --
MR. SPEAKER, COULD YOU TELL THEM TO STOP THE RUDE
BOOING AND NOT MESS WITH MY TIME.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WE WILL -- WE WILL BE
RESPECTFUL OF ALL VIEWS, PLEASE.
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MR. BARRON: IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, GET UP AND SAY
SOMETHING.
THE AMERICAN FLAG, AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO POINT
OUT THE RACISM IN THE AMERICAN FLAG. THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE SAID THAT WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL
MEN, NOT WOMEN, NOT BLACK PEOPLE, NOT AFRICANS, WHITE MEN ARE
CREATED EQUAL WITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS, THOSE -- AND THE PURSUIT OF
LIFE, HAPPINESS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF. IT WASN'T APPLIED TO US. IN THAT
VERY DECLARATION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ITS COMPLAINTS, IT WAS A LIST OF
COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE KING OF ENGLAND. THE COMPLAINTS WAS
TAXATION, WITH -- NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. THERE WERE
COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW THE ARMY WAS TREATING THEM TERRIBLY. THERE
WERE ALSO COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW THEY COULDN'T EVEN TRADE WITH OTHER
COUNTRIES. BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER COMPLAINT IN THERE THAT SAID THEY WAS
UPSET WITH THE KING BECAUSE THE KING INCITED INSURRECTIONS AMONGST
THEM, AND CAUSED THE INDIAN SAVAGES TO FIGHT IN WARFARE AGAINST THEM.
THIS IS HOW THIS COUNTRY STARTED. THEN AFTER THEY FINISHED THEIR
REVOLUTIONARY WAR, BETSY ROSS AND FRANCIS HOPKINSONS (SIC) --
WHOEVER YOU DETERMINE, STITCHED THE FIRST FLAG, THE AMERICAN FLAG.
WHILE THEY WERE STITCHING THE FLAG, WE WERE CATCHING STITCHES IN
SLAVERY, SUFFERING FROM SOME OF THE MOST BRUTAL TREATMENT THE HUMAN
MIND COULD CONJURE UP.
AND THEN YOU HAD FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, WHO CAME ALONG
WITH THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER. AND FRANCIS SCOTT KEY WAS AN
ATTORNEY, HE WAS A -- A PROSECUTOR, AND HE WAS A SLAVEHOLDER. AND HE
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SAW IN 1812, DURING THE 1812 WAR, IN 1814, FORT HENRY (SIC) WAS
BEING BOMBED, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN THE AIR, AND FRANCIS SCOTT KEY,
A SLAVEHOLDER, A RACIST, STARTED TO PEN THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER,
WHICH YOU LOVE SO MUCH. THERE'S A STANZA IN THAT THAT THEY DON'T SAY
ANYMORE. WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE HURLING AND THE SLAVES THAT HE SAID
SHOULD BE IN THEIR GRAVES, BECAUSE THERE WERE MERCENARIES, AMERICAN
MERCENARIES, HIRED BY THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY TO FIGHT AGAINST AMERICA,
AND ENSLAVED AFRICANS WERE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO FIGHT AGAINST AMERICA,
BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE GRANTED THEIR FREEDOM. SO, THEY LEFT THAT PART
OUT. BUT, IN FACT, IT WAS THE BRITISH WHO WAS LOOKING TO ABOLISH
SLAVERY. SO, THE COLONIES DIDN'T WANT TO ABOLISH SLAVERY, THEY ALREADY
STOLE THE LAND FROM THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, THEN STOLE US, SO THEY
DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A REVOLUTIONARY WAR BECAUSE OF THEY --
THE WAY THEY WERE TREATED.
THAT'S THE REAL AMERICAN HISTORY. THAT'S WHAT THIS
FLAG MEANS TO ME. SO, WHEN I SEE YOU PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THIS
(INDICATING), YOU HAVE YOUR POLITICS, I HAVE MINE. SO, ON BEHALF OF ALL
THE NFL PLAYERS WHO THEIR WHITE OWNERS ARE TELLING THEM IF THEY WANT
TO PROTEST THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, THEY HAVE TO GO IN THE LOCKER ROOM
AND DO IT, I TELL THEM TO BE MEN, TO STAND UP LIKE MEN AND PROTEST THIS
FLAG, BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME SYMBOLISM AS THE CONFEDERATE FLAG TO
SOME OF US, BECAUSE IT WAS BORN IN RACISM.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO DO THIS FOR THE SOLDIERS WITH MY
LAST TIME LEFT. FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE NFL, WHEN THEY PLAY THE
NATIONAL ANTHEM, THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
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-- (INAUDIBLE/STEPS AWAY FROM MIC)
(KNEELING/INDICATING)
MEMBER: NO PROPS. POINT OF ORDER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --
MR. RA HAS A POINT OF ORDER.
MR. RA: THE RULES OF THE CHAMBER PREVENT THE USE
OF PROPS, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YOUR POINT OF ORDER
IS WELL TAKEN.
PLEASE, MEMBERS, WE DO NOT USE PROPS IN THE HOUSE AS
WE SPEAK.
MR. RAIA ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. RAIA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M -- I'M NOT
USING A PROP, I'M JUST GOING TO POINT WHAT'S ALREADY ON MY DESK. BUT
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTLESS AMERICANS THAT HAVE DIED IN WAR, IN BATTLES,
PROTECTING OUR IDEALS, IT'S -- IT'S VERY FULFILLING TO KNOW THAT THE REASON
THE PRIOR SPEAKER CAN GET UP AND DO WHAT HE DID IS BECAUSE OF WHAT
THAT FLAG STANDS FOR. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RA.
MR. RA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU KNOW, THIS
RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES -- AND THERE'S A REASON WE RECOGNIZE JUNE 14TH AS
FLAG DAY. WAY BACK IN 1777 IN THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS,
THEY ADOPTED THE STARS AND STRIPES AS THE FLAG OF THIS COUNTRY. AND
THERE'S A LOT OF SYMBOLISM IN OUR FLAG. THE COLORS OF THE FLAG
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SYMBOLIZE THINGS. THE RED SYMBOLIZES HARDINESS AND VALOR, THE WHITE
SYMBOLIZES PURITY AND INNOCENCE, AND BLUE REPRESENTS VIGILANCE,
PERSEVERANCE AND JUSTICE. AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY
DAY TODAY WAS LISTENING TO THOSE SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE BACK RECITE OUR
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WHEN WE STARTED SESSION TODAY.
SO, ARE WE PERFECT AS A COUNTRY? NO. BUT WE SHOULD
NEVER STOP STRIVING TO BE BETTER. BUT THAT FLAG STANDS FOR THAT
CONTINUING STRIVING TO BE WHAT RONALD REAGAN CALLED MANKIND'S BEST
HOPE. SO, I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE TODAY AS FLAG DAY. I COMMEND THE
SPONSOR FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING IT.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. LALOR.
MR. LALOR: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IF YOU
BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR WHICH OUR FLAG STANDS HAS
BEEN ANYTHING BUT A FORCE FOR GOOD IN THE WORLD, ON BALANCE, HAS BEEN
A FORCE FOR HUMAN FREEDOM OVER THE LAST 240 YEARS, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE
THAT, YOU'RE REALLY NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO HISTORY. WE'RE IMPERFECT, BUT
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE UNITED STATES HAS DONE ON BALANCE IN OUR
HISTORY, WE HAVE LIBERATED PEOPLE, WE HAVE LIBERATED CONTINENTS; WE
HAVE SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE WORLD. OUR SOLDIERS NOT ONLY DEFEND US,
WE DEFEND OTHER COUNTRIES. WE HAVE PROVIDED HUMANITARIAN RELIEF.
AND AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW, THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS ARE AROUND THE
WORLD PROVIDING FOR OTHER COUNTRIES. WE'VE ASKED FOR VERY LITTLE IN
RETURN.
LAST WEEK WAS D-DAY, THE COMMEMORATION OF
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D-DAY, 74 YEARS, AND YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE AMERICAN LIVES LOST IN
EUROPE, AND THE ONLY LAND THAT THE UNITED STATES HOLDS IN EUROPE, IN
FRANCE ON THOSE BEACHES ARE THE AMERICAN CEMETERIES. AND I THINK
THAT SAYS A LOT. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FLAG, I THINK OF FLAG
RAISINGS, LIKE ON MOUNT SURIBACHI AND IWO JIMA WHEN IMPERIAL JAPAN
WAS TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD. A BRUTAL, BRUTAL REGIME WAS
STOPPED. AND A BIG PART OF THAT WAS THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGN, AND A BIG
PART OF THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SUCCESS OF THAT CAMPAIGN WAS OUR
MARINES RAISING THAT FLAG ON SURIBACHI.
AND YOU FAST-FORWARD A COUPLE OF DECADES, PRESIDENT
KENNEDY SAID, I WANT TO GO TO THE MOON BY THE END OF THE YEAR -- BY
THE END OF THE DECADE, AND WE WERE THERE BY 1969. AND WHAT DID WE
DO ON THE MOON? WE RAISED THAT FLAG AS A SYMBOL OF OUR INGENUITY, AS
A SYMBOL OF OUR DETERMINATION, AS A SYMBOL OF PUSHING BOUNDARIES AND
TRYING TO EXPAND OUR HORIZONS. AND REMEMBER THAT DAY 17 YEARS AGO,
SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, A DARK, DARK DAY; 3,000 AMERICANS KILLED. THE
BEGINNING OF THE RECOVERY STARTED WHEN THREE NEW YORK CITY FIREMEN
RAISED THAT WILL FLAG DOWN ON GROUND ZERO, NOT THAT FAR FROM HERE.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MARINE
CARRYING A MACHINE GUN IN IRAQ IN THE EARLY DAYS OF OPERATION IRAQI
FREEDOM, WE GOT OUR FIRST MAIL CALL ON -- ON EASTER SUNDAY IN 2003.
AND I GOT SOME -- I GOT SOME COOKIES AND SOME -- SOME NOTES FROM MY
FAMILY MEMBERS, AND MY FATHER ALSO INCLUDED AMERICAN -- AN
AMERICAN FLAG IN THAT CARE PACKAGE. AND WE PUT IT UP IN WHAT WE
CALLED OUR "HOOCH". WE PRESENTED IT AND FLEW IT PROUDLY. AND SOON ALL
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THE OTHER SQUADS AND PLATOONS IN OUR UNIT WROTE HOME AND SAID, HEY,
SEND US A FLAG. AND ALL THESE YOUNG MARINES, LONG -- A LONG WAY FROM
HOME, DREW INSPIRATION AND HOPE FROM HAVING THAT FLAG NEAR US EVERY
DAY.
SO, I AM VERY PROUD OF OUR FLAG. I'M PROUD TO SAY I
DEFENDED IT. I THINK EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM SHOULD DEFEND IT, WE ALL --
WE ALL TOOK AN OATH TO DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION. I THINK WE SHOULD DO
THAT. AND FLAG DAY, AN IMPORTANT DAY, I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE THIS
RESOLUTION AND I COMMEND THE SPONSOR. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. ASHBY.
MR. ASHBY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I, TOO,
WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS RESOLUTION AND THANK
-- THANK THE SPONSOR FOR BRINGING IT UP. I WOULD HOPE THAT MY
COLLEAGUE, MR. BARRON, WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO, NOT ONLY THE MISTAKES
THAT WERE MADE IN THE PAST, BUT THE GROWTH THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS
AFFORDED ALL PEOPLE, AND CONTINUES TO AFFORD ALL PEOPLE. AND WOULD
ALSO LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AND THE SUPPORT OF OUR FLAG, AND WHAT IT
CONTINUES TO DO FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. AND
THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN LAYING DOWN THEIR
LIVES EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY DAY, SO WE CAN PERPETUATE THIS GREAT
EXPERIMENT, AND CONTINUE ON WITH THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HOLD SO DEARLY,
AND TO EVEN ALLOW FOR SOME OF THE THINGS, WHETHER THEY WERE SPECTACLES
OR DEMONSTRATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE TODAY, THEY EMBRACE THAT, THEY
PROTECT THOSE VERY FREEDOMS. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUE
WOULD ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY, AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS
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RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. EPSTEIN.
MR. EPSTEIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THE RIGHT
TO PROTEST IS ENSHRINED IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. EXERCISING THAT RIGHT
IS A HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM. INCREASINGLY, WE SEE SHAMEFUL EFFORTS
TO STIFLE AMERICANS WHO SPEAK OUT AGAINST MANY INJUSTICES IN OUR
COUNTRY: SYSTEMIC RACISM, SEXISM, INCOME EQUALITY, POVERTY THAT
BREEDS THESE ATROCITIES, POLICE BRUTALITY AND MASS INCARCERATION THAT
PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE SUBJECT TO EVERY DAY. EIGHT-NINE PERCENT OF THE
8,000 PEOPLE SITTING IN RIKERS ISLAND ARE BLACK AND LATINO.
SEVENTY-NINE PERCENT ARE AWAITING TRIAL. KALIEF BROWDER SAT IN RIKERS
FOR THREE YEARS WITHOUT HAVING EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME, AND
THEN HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
IN NEW YORK CITY WE SEE -- WITNESS THESE HORRORS
EVERY DAY, LIKE THE -- THE KILLING OF ERIC GARNER. WE OWE THOSE WHO
HAVE SUFFERED SUCH GRAVE INJUSTICES THE ABILITY TO SPEAK OUT, LIKE COLIN
KAEPERNICK HAS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. RISKING HIS OWN CAREER, HE'S
USED THIS PLATFORM TO PUSH FORWARD THE ISSUES AROUND RACIAL INJUSTICE
AND POLICE BRUTALITY IN THIS COUNTRY. HIS PEACEFUL ACT OF TAKING A KNEE
DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM HAS EARNED HIM UNDUE RETALIATION THAT HAS
JEOPARDIZED HIS CAREER.
HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD, IN ALBANY, PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS, THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, HAVE BEEN INTIMIDATED WITH
FRIVOLOUS BILLS FOR THEIR PEACEFUL ACTIONS HERE IN THIS CHAMBER, IN THIS
BUILDING. IT'S AN OUTRAGEOUS EFFORT TO ATTEMPT TO SILENCE THOSE WHO ARE
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STANDING UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED.
SO, IN THE SPIRIT OF FLAG DAY, I WOULD ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO SIT AND REFLECT ON THE ORIGINS OF OUR COUNTRY, THE VALUES
ON WHICH IT WAS FOUNDED ON, DISSENT AND PROTESTS, THE REVOLUTIONARY
SPIRIT THE FLAG REPRESENTS. LET'S ENSURE THAT WE'RE LIVING UP TO THOSE
VALUES EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. GLICK.
MS. GLICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I HAD NO
INTENTION OF SPEAKING ON THIS MEASURE. FLAG DAY, JUNE 14TH, IN MY
HOME, WAS ALWAYS CELEBRATED AS MY PARENTS' ANNIVERSARY. SO, IT SORT OF
OVERSHADOWED THE MEANING OF THE FLAG. BUT IN HEARING THE
CONVERSATION TODAY, I THINK BACK, IT IS AN IMPERFECT COUNTRY. WE STRIVE,
BUT THERE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT ARE ALLEGED THAT ATTEND TO THIS FLAG.
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, THERE HAVE BEEN ACTIONS BY
THE GOVERNMENT THAT HAVE TARNISHED THAT FLAG. IN WORLD WAR II,
AMERICANS RESPONDED TO THE CRIES OF EUROPEANS, PARTICULARLY THE BRITS,
WHO STOOD UP TO NAZI ATROCITIES. AND WE RESPONDED. BUT THERE WERE
ALSO PEOPLE TRYING TO FLEE THE NAZIS, AND THIS COUNTRY DENIED THEM
REFUGE, JUST AS THIS COUNTRY TODAY IS DENYING REFUGE TO PEOPLE FLEEING
VIOLENCE THAT IS BEYOND OUR PERSONAL IMAGINATIONS.
MOST RECENTLY, THIS FLAG HAS BEEN TARNISHED WITH THE
DISGRACEFUL AND OUTRAGEOUS TEARING APART OF FAMILIES AT THE BORDER,
REMOVING CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES, FROM THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS FLAG IS SUPPOSED TO STAND FOR. WE ARE NOT
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SUPPOSED TO STAND FOR UNDERMINING THE VERY BASIC HUMANITY OF PEOPLE,
AND THAT IS WHAT IS BEING DONE IN OUR NAME TODAY BY OUR GOVERNMENT.
IT IS SHOCKING, IT IS HORRIFYING, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANOTHER
ADMINISTRATION IN MEMORY -- I DON'T BELIEVE THAT RONALD REAGAN, FOR
ALL OF THE REASONS I DISAGREED WITH HIM, I DON'T BELIEVE RONALD REAGAN,
WHO BELIEVED THERE SHOULD BE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR PEOPLE WHO
WERE HERE WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION - AS THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO
HAVE COME TO OUR SHORES WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION SINCE WE BECAME A
COUNTRY - I DO NOT BELIEVE, THAT HE WOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING TODAY IN OUR NAME.
SO, I CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM AND THE HOPE AND THE
PROMISE THAT THE FLAG IS -- HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTENDED TO BE A BEACON
ACROSS THE WORLD, BUT THAT BEACON HAS BEEN SHUT OFF AND IT NO LONGER
REPRESENTS THE HOPE, THE DREAM. AND IT IS BECAUSE I HAVE TAKEN AN OATH
TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION, I STAND HERE TODAY TO SAY THESE WORDS
BECAUSE THE BEACON SHOULD NOT BE SHUT OFF, IT MUST BE REIGNITED.
DEMOCRACY MUST BE RESTORED. AND THIS FLAG WILL, AGAIN, BE A BEACON TO
THE WORLD.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. TAYLOR.
MR. TAYLOR: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. LIKE SO
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, I, TOO, AM A FORMER MILITARY -- PROUD TO SERVE
IN THE MILITARY AS A MILITARY POLICE OFFICER AND ALL THAT IT REPRESENTED.
AND STILL, I RISE BECAUSE OF THE HOPE THAT THE FLAG OFFERS, BUT I -- I THINK
WE ARE DISILLUSIONED IF WE STAND HERE TODAY AND DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS
FLAG ENCUMBERS ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT MY COLLEAGUE POINTED OUT.
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BUT, YET, WE MUST STRIVE ON. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT WE HAVE TO, I THINK, BEGIN WITH
UNDERSTANDING THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. IT EXISTS. IT'S PART OF OUR
HISTORY, AND WE CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. AND WHEN WE SPEAK
TO THOSE THINGS I THINK IT'S OFFENSIVE, AT LEAST I FEEL OFFENDED, THAT SOME
FOLKS WILL TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT THIS IS. YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T GREAT
GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH WHERE I WAS. AND WHEN I LEAVE HERE, I DRIVE
ALL THE WAY TO NEW YORK CITY WITH A BOW AND TIE ON, BECAUSE WHEN I'M
STOPPED BY POLICE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ROOM FOR
DISCUSSION. I LIVE IN THAT WORLD. I LIVE IN TWO WORLDS. AND WHEN
YOU'RE DRIVING, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE, IT REALLY -- YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
SO, I LIVE IN A WORLD THAT I -- I THANK AND I TRY TO HONOR
THIS FLAG, BUT I LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT DOESN'T HONOR WHO I AM. I LIVE IN A
PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE BIGOTED AND THEY SEE MY SKIN COMPLEXION
BEFORE THEY SEE ME. I INSTRUCT MY SON THAT WHEN HE DRIVES HIS VEHICLE,
TAKE NO PEOPLE WITH YOU. I INSTRUCT MY SON THAT WHEN HE'S STOPPED,
TURN ON THE LIGHT -- I RUN A WHOLE DRILL ABOUT MY CHILD AND WHAT HE
SHOULD DO WHEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE. I DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES
ACROSS THE AISLE LIVING BESIDE ME HAVE THAT CONVERSATION -- HAVE EVER
HAD THAT CONVERSATION. I WANT MY CHILD HOME. AND I'M CONCERNED
WHEN HE'S STOPPED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT
BAD, BUT SOMETIMES OUR COMPLEXION MAKES PEOPLE NERVOUS. AND TO
MAKE HIM AT EASE, I TELL MY SON: DO THIS, DO THIS, AND DO THIS. AND
HE'S GRADUATING FROM PENN STATE. HE'S GOING TO BE FINE. HE'S A
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WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN. BUT HE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF THE
GAME.
AND SO, WE LIVE IN AN IMPERFECT SOCIETY. BUT LET US
NOT FORGET THAT A LOT OF FOLKS LABORED TO MAKE THESE STRIPES. AND, AGAIN,
I PUT ON A UNIFORM, I SERVED TO -- AND I TOOK THE OATH TO PROTECT THIS
COUNTRY. AND I DO. I HONOR THAT. BUT, I -- I WANT US TO BE ON A FAIR,
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHEN WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PAST, BECAUSE
PEOPLE KIND OF ROMANTICIZE THE PAST, AND THE PAST MAY HAVE BEEN THOSE
THINGS FOR YOU, BUT NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND -- AND SO, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE AND WE'RE
GOING TO REPRESENT THIS GREAT STATE, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE A
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE, AND WHETHER YOU WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT
OR NOT, FOLKS ARE PRIVILEGED. PRIVILEGED. AND IT MAY NOT, IT'S JUST THE
WAY LIFE IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S
DIFFERENT. SO, I JUST WANT US TO -- AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO COMMEND THE
SPEAKER FOR -- I'M SORRY, MY COLLEAGUE FOR INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION.
AND ON FLAG DAY WE SHOULD CELEBRATE. BUT IN THAT CELEBRATION, JUST
LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE'VE COME FROM AND WHERE YET WE HAVE TO GO TO.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE FLAG: TO REMIND US WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND
WHERE WE YET HAVE TO GET TO. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
(APPLAUSE)
MR. COLTON.
MR. COLTON: MR. SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, I HAVE
ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN PRINCIPLES THAT WE MUST FOLLOW,
AND THERE ARE CERTAIN ASPIRATIONS THAT WE HAVE ALL HAVE AND CONCERNS
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
AND NEEDS. AND IT IS BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THAT WE HAVE THE BEST
CHANCE OF ACHIEVING THOSE ASPIRATIONS AND MEETING THE NEEDS AND
CONCERNS OF OTHERS. THERE IS NO ONE IN THIS ROOM WHO IS PERFECT.
THERE IS NO NATION IN THIS WORLD WHO IS PERFECT. HUMAN NATURE IS SUCH
THAT THERE IS EVIL IN THE WORLD. BUT I DON'T INTEND TO CONCEDE THE VALUE
AND THE SYMBOLISM OF A FLAG, OF A FLAG THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR. THEY
ARE NOT DYING FOR EVIL THINGS OR BAD THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED,
THEY ARE DYING BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN CERTAIN PRINCIPLES AND
ASPIRATIONS. AND IT IS BY FOCUSING ON THOSE PRINCIPLES, WE ASPIRE TO
FREEDOM, WE ASPIRE TO DEMOCRACY, WE ASPIRE TO BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN
PEOPLE. THAT IS WHAT THE FLAG SYMBOLIZES.
HAVE WE ACHIEVED IT? NO. IS IT, IN FACT, TRUE THAT
THERE ARE MANY WRONGS AND INJUSTICES, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED
FROM RACISM, FROM HUNGER, FROM ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE BAD? THAT
MAY BE TRUE, BUT I DON'T INTEND TO CONCEDE THE ASPIRATIONS THAT OUR FLAG
REPRESENTS, AND THAT'S WHY I WEAR A FLAG ON MY LAPEL EVERY DAY.
BECAUSE WE MUST CONCENTRATE ON BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, ON ASPIRING
TO DO BETTER. AND WHEN WE CONCENTRATE ON THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN
COMMON, WE CAN OVERCOME THE THINGS THAT ARE BAD THAT DON'T BELONG AS
PART OF OUR NATION, AS PART OF OUR WORLD.
SO, YES, I BELIEVE WE CAN HONOR THE FLAG AS A SYMBOL
FOR OUR IDEALS AND OUR ASPIRATIONS. AND I BELIEVE WE MUST WORK TO
OVERCOME THE MANY EVILS THAT DO EXIST THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD,
NOT JUST IN OUR NATION, IN EVERY NATION. AND BY DOING THAT, WE HAVE THE
BEST CHANCE OF OVERCOMING THEM. SO, I WANT TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
FOR INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION. AND I SEE IT AS A RESOLUTION THAT
RECOGNIZES THE IDEALS AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF THIS COUNTRY AND OF ALL
PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL, TO OVERCOME THE THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT PROUD OF,
TO BRING US TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE GOOD AND THE IDEALS THAT WE SHOULD
BE ASPIRING TO. SO, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED SYMBOLS, AND I THINK WE
SHOULD TRY TO BRING OUT THE GOOD IN THE SYMBOLS THAT WE UNITE AROUND.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO.
MR. CRESPO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE
RESOLUTION. I -- I, TOO, WAS NOT EXPECTING TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS, BUT
SOMETHING THAT I -- I MUST SHARE. AND, FOR ONE, I APPRECIATE THE HISTORY
LESSON THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US. THOSE ARE NOT STORIES, THOSE ARE FACTS
ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A NATION AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AND A
HISTORY THAT MANY MAY WANT TO BRUSH OFF OR WASH OFF, BUT CANNOT BE
FORGOTTEN. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE REMINDED OF IT EVERY SINGLE DAY IN
POLICIES THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE HERE IN THIS CHAMBER.
BUT I MUST SAY THIS -- AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I
COULD, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT, BUT SOME HAVE ALREADY BEEN
WELL-PRESENTED, THE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS BEING ONE OF THEM; THE
TREATMENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN OUR POLICING AND -- AND OVER-POLICING IN
SOME COMMUNITIES IS ANOTHER. BUT I WANT TO TOUCH ON A NUMBER,
4,645. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT NUMBER, THAT IS
THE NUMBER IN A RECENT HARVARD STUDY OF THE -- OF DEATHS IN PUERTO RICO
BECAUSE OF HURRICANE MARIA. AND I MENTION THAT NUMBER IN REFERENCE
TO THIS FLAG, BECAUSE I WAS BORN IN PUERTO RICO, I'M AN AMERICAN
CITIZEN, AND PROUDLY WILL SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND PROUDLY HAVE THIS
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FLAG ON MY DESK, BECAUSE I'M AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. AMERICAN CITIZEN
BECAUSE I WAS BORN IN PUERTO RICO. AMERICAN CITIZEN BECAUSE FOR THE
LAST 100 PLUS YEARS, PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS NATION, BUT AS A
COLONY. CALL IT A COMMONWEALTH IF YOU WANT TO BE POETIC ABOUT IT.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, IT'S A COLONY. A COLONY THAT SAW THE MOST
DEVASTATING NATURAL DISASTER IN ITS HISTORY, THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN
CITIZENS DIED, AND IT'S STILL BEGGING IN CONGRESS FOR SOME ASSISTANCE.
AND -- AND YES, SOME THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE
ABOUT IT, THE TREATMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S.
VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS BEEN A STAIN AND AN INSULT TO THE VERY DEMOCRACY WE
ALL WANT TO CELEBRATE.
AND -- AND I'LL REMIND FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN
THEY TALK ABOUT THE MILITARY AND OUR VETERANS AND, YES, I CELEBRATE EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM AS WELL, INCLUDING THE THOUSANDS UPON
THOUSANDS, THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OVER THE YEARS OF PUERTO RICAN
VETERANS WHO HAVE ALSO DIED, WHO HAVE ALSO SERVED, AND WHO WHEREVER
THEY ARE IN HEAVEN NOW ARE LOOKING DOWN OF THE EMBARRASSMENT OF THE
TREATMENT OF THEIR LINAGE BY THE VERY COUNTRY AND FLAG THAT THEY
SACRIFICED TO DEFEND.
SO, WHAT -- WHAT I SUGGEST IS THAT WHILE I CELEBRATE
THIS FLAG - AND WE ALL HAVE SHOULD - AND WE ALL, AS BEEN ELOQUENTLY
STATED BY OTHER SPEAKERS, YOU KNOW, NEED TO ASPIRE TO THE VERY BEST OF
WHAT WE STAND FOR AND -- AND UNDERSTAND THAT YES, THERE ARE VERY
NEGATIVE THINGS AND STAINS IN HISTORY THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO FORGET, OR
DENY. THERE IS NO SYMBOL THAT IS PURE. ON EARTH, EVERYTHING CARRIES
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WITH IT THE GOOD AND THE BAD; IT'S JUST A BALANCE OF LIFE. I AM A PERSON
OF FAITH. AND, YET, THE VERY TEACHINGS AND THE VERY BOOK THAT I BASE
SOME OF THAT IS STAINED AS WELL BY -- BY ITS OWN HISTORY. THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE NAME OF HE WHO I CREDIT WITH LIFE, ARE NOT
NECESSARILY A GREAT HISTORY TO-- TO ACKNOWLEDGE, BUT -- BUT THEY'RE TRUE.
AND SO, MUCH LIKE THAT, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE. I
CELEBRATE THIS FLAG. I WANT MY COMMUNITY IN PUERTO RICO TO CONTINUE
TO BE PROUD AMERICAN CITIZENS. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE OF STATUS
FOR ALL THE TERRITORIES NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IN ORDER FOR EVERY AMERICAN
TO FEEL LIKE AN AMERICAN. I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MANY TEARS --
HOW MANY -- HOW MANY FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BECAUSE OF A
TRAGEDY, AND THE VERY FLAG THAT WE'VE BEEN... I DON'T WANT TO SAY FORCED,
ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FACTS AND HISTORY. PUERTO
RICO DIDN'T CALL ON -- PEOPLE IN PUERTO RICO DIDN'T CALL ON THE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO INVADE BACK IN 1898, BUT -- BUT THE
AMERICANS CAME IN AND LIBERATED US FROM SPAIN, YET, MADE US A PART OF
THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT, ONLY TO TREAT US DIFFERENTLY OVER THE YEARS.
SO, ON BEHALF OF EVERY PUERTO RICAN WHO HAS FOUGHT
IN A WAR TO DEFEND THIS FLAG, ON BEHALF OF THE 4,645 LIVES LOST IN PUERTO
RICO BECAUSE OF HURRICANE MARIA, AND THEIR FAMILIES STILL STRUGGLING, I
ASK ALL OF YOU WHO ARE VOTING FOR THIS AND WHO WANT THE VERY BEST FOR
OUR NATION AND WHO SUPPORT THIS FLAG, TO REMEMBER THEM, AS WELL, AND
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IF WE ARE TO BECOME ALL THOSE GREAT THINGS THAT THIS
FLAG REPRESENTS, THEN WE NEED TO START BEING HONEST ABOUT THE FAULTS THAT
WE HAVE. WE NEED TO START ADDRESSING THESE THINGS IN A VERY REAL WAY
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AND PUTTING ASIDE PARTISAN POLITICS AND JUST TREATING AMERICANS FOR
WHAT THEY ARE: THE VERY PEOPLE PROMISED LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT
OF HAPPINESS. I'LL BE VOTING -- SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. PICHARDO.
MR. PICHARDO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND A
LOT -- LIKE A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING ON THIS
RESOLUTION, BUT I WAS MOVED TO DO SO FROM THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN HAVING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE SYMBOLISM AND WHAT THIS FLAG
MEANS. AND I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO COME TO GRIPS FOR MYSELF AND WHAT
THIS FLAG SYMBOLIZES FOR MYSELF, FOR MY FAMILY, FOR MY FELLOW
AMERICANS OF ALL RACES, COLORS, CREEDS, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, AND THE
LIKE. I KNOW THAT THIS FLAG IS STITCHED TOGETHER BY THE SACRIFICES OF
MANY AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE AGES TO PUSH FOR A MORE PERFECT UNION.
IT IS STITCHED TOGETHER LIKE HEROES WHO PARTICIPATE AS PART OF THE
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, OR PARTICULAR, DR. ROSCOE BROWN, WHO IS THE
PRESIDENT OF BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT I HAVE THE HONOR OF
REPRESENTING, AND SUFFERED THE INJUSTICES FROM HIS ENTIRE LIFE SO THAT HE
IS CONSIDERED AS AMERICAN AS ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. IT IS LIKE MY
BROTHER, JOSE, WHO SERVED IN THE 101ST AIRBORNE DURING OPERATION IRAQI
FREEDOM AND SERVED HIS COUNTRY VALIANTLY WITH DIGNITY TO THE POINT THAT
HE IS SUCH A HUMBLE MAN, HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES, BUT AT
THE SAME TIME, I KNOW THAT INSIDE HE IS PROUD THAT HE SERVED HIS
COUNTRY VALIANTLY AND PROUDLY.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE
AND REMEMBER WHAT THIS FLAG MEANS IS TO PUSH THE IDEA THAT WE ARE
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STRIVING FOR A MORE PERFECT UNION. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE BLACK MARKS IN THE PAST THAT HAVE REPRESENTED THIS
FLAG, LIKE 100 YEARS AGO I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SHARE THE
SAME BATHROOMS AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE. THE IDEA THAT RIGHT
NOW, AS MY COLLEAGUE SO ELOQUENTLY STATED, THAT THERE ARE 4,645 LIVES
THAT WERE LOST BECAUSE OF THE INEPTITUDE AND THE IGNORANCE OF OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INTERCEDE AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR TIME OF
NEED. MY WIFE IS PUERTO RICAN. MY DAUGHTER IS PUERTO RICAN. MY
NEPHEW, WHO WAS BORN YESTERDAY, IS PUERTO RICAN. THEY DESERVE, AND
OUR FAMILIES DESERVE TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AND RESPECT THAT ANY OTHER
AMERICAN IN THIS CHAMBER OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY DESERVE TO HAVE. WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, THEIR CREED, THEIR
SKIN COLOR ARE RESPECTED, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THESE IDEALS OF THIS FLAG
ARE SUPPOSED TO SIGNIFY. AGAIN, IT'S BEEN SAID THAT THIS EXPERIMENT
HASN'T BEEN PERFECT, BUT IT IS OUR DUTY TO CALL OUT INDIVIDUALS WHO PUSH
OUR COMMUNITIES FURTHER APART. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, RECOGNIZE THE
STAINS AND THE INJUSTICES THAT HAVE ALLOWED CERTAIN PEOPLE TO GET INTO
POWER.
NOW, WHAT THIS -- WHAT THIS FLAG ALSO MEANS FOR ME IS
THAT A YOUNG MAN FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BACK IN THE 1970S WAS
ABLE TO EMIGRATE HERE, MEET HIS WIFE, START A FAMILY, AND THAT HIS SON
WOULD BE TO SIT IN THIS LEGISLATURE, DEBATING BILLS AS IMPACTFUL THAT WILL
REVERBERATE FOR THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY. THAT'S WHAT ALSO THIS FLAG MEANS TO
ME. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK AT
THIS HOLISTICALLY AND NEVER FORGET OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS EITHER IN
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PUERTO RICO OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, AND THAT THE AMERICAN
EXCEPTIONALISM THAT I BELIEVE IN IS THAT WE OPEN OUR HANDS AND WE
OPEN OUR HEARTS TO HELP OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED. I PROUDLY
SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. MURRAY.
MR. MURRAY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M
SPEAKING NOW BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY MIXED EMOTIONS, BECAUSE
LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES AND SOME OF THE THINGS THEY SAY, YOU'RE
RIGHT, WE HAVE BLACK MARKS, WE DO HAVE SOME BAD TIMES IN OUR HISTORY,
AND AS THEY SAY, THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO FORGET HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO
REPEAT IT. WE DON'T WANT THOSE THINGS REPEATED. AT THE SAME TIME, THIS
FLAG, IT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EVERYONE. IT'S A SYMBOL. IT
SYMBOLIZES THIS GREAT NATION. IT SYMBOLIZES THAT WE STRIVE TO BE BETTER.
IT SYMBOLIZES THE -- THE CONTINUING EFFORT TO GET PAST SOME OF THE BAD
AND TO BE AS GOOD AS WE CAN. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER FOUND THE FLAG OF
UTOPIA BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT EXISTS. THERE'S NOTHING PERFECT IN THIS
WORLD, BUT WE'RE TRYING.
WE HAVE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR TRYING TO COME
TO THIS NATION BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS HOPE. IT REPRESENTS OPPORTUNITY.
MEN AND WOMEN WILLING TO LAY THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE AND -- AND GIVE IT
ALL TO PRESERVE THESE FREEDOMS AND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO -- FOR THOSE, I
ACTUALLY -- I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE THAT SEE THIS FLAG AND SEE DOOM AND
DESPAIR. I REALLY FEEL SORRY FOR YOU IF YOU JUST SEE NEGATIVE WHEN YOU
SEE THIS FLAG, BECAUSE I SEE HOPE. I SEE FREEDOM. I SEE GOODNESS. AS
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID BEFORE, IN ONE OF OUR DARKEST TIMES IN OUR
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HISTORY IN OUR LIFETIME, WHEN WE WERE ATTACKED, THIS NATION WAS
ATTACKED, WE WERE DOWN, WE WERE HURTING, WE WERE IN TEARS, WE WERE
STRUGGLING TO FIND HOPE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT BROUGHT IT TO US? WHEN
WE DID RAISE THAT FLAG RIGHT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH. AND IT BROUGHT US ALL
TOGETHER. ALL OF US, NOT ASKING WHAT IS YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION, IT DIDN'T
MATTER ABOUT RACE OR RELIGION OR GENDER, IT MATTERED THAT WE WERE ALL
AMERICANS, WE WERE IN THIS TOGETHER. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS SYMBOLIZES.
I'M PROUD OF THIS FLAG. I WILL FOREVER BE PROUD OF THIS
FLAG AND THE EFFORTS THAT WE ALL MAKE TO CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO BE BETTER.
AND TO ME, THAT'S WHAT THAT REPRESENTS. SO, I PROUDLY SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RIVERA.
MR. RIVERA: MR. SPEAKER -- MR. SPEAKER, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. WHEN MY MOTHER FIRST BROUGHT ME TO THIS GREAT CITY --
THIS GREAT STATE OF OURS, IT WAS ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, 1947. OVER A
MILLION PEOPLE FROM PUERTO RICO ARRIVED DURING THAT DECADE, THE '40S.
I, MY MOTHER, MY TWO SISTER (SIC). I RECALL MY FIRST DAY IN SCHOOL, 1948,
THE TEACHER ASKED ME, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I SAID, MY NAME IS JOSE
ANGEL RIVERA PADILLA DE CRUZ. THE TEACHER SAY, WHAT? JOSE ANGEL
RIVERA PADILLA DE CRUZ. SHE SAID, NO, YOUR NAME IS JOSEPH. I GAVE
UP. FIRST MOMENT I -- I COMPROMISED. I SAID, TEACHER, MY NAME IS
JOSE RIVERA. SHE SAID, I CAN WORK WITH THAT, BECAUSE IF -- IF I CALL ALL OF
YOU BY YOUR FULL NAME, I WILL HAVE NO TIME TO -- TO GIVE YOU A GOOD
EDUCATION. THERE WERE 40 KIDS IN THAT CLASS, ALL OF US ARRIVED RECENTLY
AT THAT MOMENT. THEN SHE SAY, GET UP. WE ALL GOT UP. SHE SAID, I'M
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GOING TO TEACH YOU ALL A SONG THAT FOR THE REST OF YOU LIFE WILL LIVE WITH
YOU. SO, WHEN THAT TEACHER STARTED SINGING, OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE... I
THOUGHT THAT SONG WAS BEING DEDICATED TO ME.
(LAUGHTER)
AND I -- WHENEVER I GO BEFORE A GROUP OF -- CLASS OF
YOUNGSTERS, I SHARE MY EXPERIENCE. WE WERE HOMELESS FOR SIX MONTHS.
SO I CAN TELL A STORY. GROWING UP IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU HEAR A LOT
OF THINGS. I LEARNED A LOT.
LET ME -- LET ME SHARE SOMETHING WITH ALL OF YOU, THAT
MY FRIEND HERE, MY -- ONE OF MY LEADER -- NOT MY LEADER, SHARED ABOUT
1898. PRIOR TO 1898, 1776, VOLUNTEERS AND RECRUITS IN THE SPANISH
ARMY, ALONG WITH CUBAN WERE PART OF THE SOLDIERS WHO KEPT THE BRITISH
VERY BUSY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE UNITED STATES
WERE BEGINNING TO GET OUT OF BEING A COLONY FROM ENGLAND. WE
CONTRIBUTED. BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE DAYS, OUR PEOPLE, MY
PEOPLE IN THOSE DAYS BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE INVESTING FINALLY IN A
COUNTRY, IN A FLAG, THAT WILL REALLY ACCEPT ALL OF US AS EQUAL.
LISTEN, THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF GROWING PAIN THAT
WE'RE GOING THROUGH IN THIS COUNTRY. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS. THE
CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE WAS NOT EASY FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN. IT WAS
NOT EASY FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING. IT WAS NOT EASY FOR ROSA PARKS. IT
WAS NOT EASY FOR MEDGAR EVERS. BUT THAT STRUGGLE TAUGHT US A LOT, THAT
YOU CAN STRUGGLE. THERE ARE OTHER, LIKE MY (INAUDIBLE) BY ANY MEANS
NECESSARY, BUT WE STRUGGLE. AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE GOT
INVOLVED IN STRUGGLING.
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NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO 1917. THERE WAS A BIG
COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, PUERTO RICAN AND CUBAN AND
SPANISH. BIG COMMUNITY. AND THEY USED TO GATHER AT CHIMNEY HALL,
WHICH WAS LOCATED ON 26TH STREET, 25TH STREET AND 6TH AVENUE. TODAY,
6TH AVENUE IS KNOWN AS THE AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS. YOU KNOW
WHY? BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FLAG FLYING BY ITSELF THERE, THE
AVENUES OF AMERICAN. EVERY COUNTRY, FROM SOUTH AND CENTRAL
AMERICA IS REPRESENTED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY FLAG. THIS IS THE
PUERTO RICAN FLAG (INDICATING). 1917, THERE WAS A PROUD AMERICAN
SOLDIER. HIS UNIFORM --YOU CAN LOOK IT UP, I'M GOING TO GIVE HIS NAME,
PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPO. HIS MILITARY UNIFORM LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING
LIKE MY BROTHER, CHARLES BARRON, OUTFIT, ALBIZU CAMPO, A FIRST
LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. ARMY. BUT BECAUSE HE LOOKED LIKE CHARLES
BARRON, ALL RIGHT, AMERICA IN THOSE DAYS AFTER THEY INVADED US, THEY
WERE SMART, THOSE GUYS, THEY WERE VERY BRILLIANT. THEY TOOK THE CREAM
OF THE CROP FROM OUR COUNTRY AND THEY TELL THEM TO LEAD US FOR THE
FUTURE, TO BE OUR LEADERS. ALBIZU CAMPO WAS ONE OF THEM. A YOUNG
MAN THAT CAME -- WAS BROUGHT HERE TO STUDY FROM PUERTO RICO IN HIS
AMERICAN UNIFORM, AND HE WAS PUT -- HE WAS SENT TO HARVARD
UNIVERSITY. THERE HE MET THE IRISH COMMUNITY. AND IT WAS THAT
DARK-SKINNED PUERTO RICAN IN THOSE DAYS WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO
CREATE A COMMITTEE TO FREE IRELAND. LOOK IT UP. LOOK IT UP.
THAT SAME SOLDIER, AMERICAN SOLDIER, ALWAYS TAUGHT
US, LISTEN, THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES. DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THE FLAG,
BECAUSE UNDER THAT FLAG, THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT LIKE THAT
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MOVIE FROM MARLON BRANDO THE -- THE UGLY AMERICAN, LOOK IT UP.
THAT MOVIE -- MOST OF YOU WERE NOT BORN, BUT THAT MOVIE CAME OUT,
THE UGLY AMERICAN, BUT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE UGLY AMERICANS --
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --
MR. RIVERA: -- UNDER THE FLAG CONTINUES --
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RAMOS --
MR. RIVERA: RIVERA OR RAMOS?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RIVERA.
MR. RIVERA: OKAY, GOOD.
-- CONTINUES. WE'RE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT, PAINFUL
MOMENT. I JUST HOPE THAT YOU REMEMBER -- SOME OF YOU LAUGH WHEN
SOMEBODY SAID, BUILD A WALL, AND THEY'RE HAPPY AND YOU LAUGH. IT'S NOT
A JOKE. YOU BUILD A WALL, FINISH UP THIS AND I WILL GO AND I'M GOING TO
CLIMB OVER IT. NUMBER ONE, THE MEXICAN DID NOT BUILD A WALL WHEN ALL
OF YOU WERE MIGRATING TO ARIZONA. GOD DID NOT BUILD A WALL. THE
MEXICAN DID NOT BUILD A WALL. AND WE ALL STRUGGLE --
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --
MR. RIVERA: -- TO BE PART OF THIS GREAT SOCIETY --
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RIVERA, YOUR
TIME HAS ELAPSED.
MR. RIVERA: SO HAVING SAID THAT, I COULD GO ON FOR
HOURS -- (MICROPHONE SHUT OFF)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOODELL.
THANK YOU, MR. RIVERA. WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO PART
TWO.
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
MR. GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WAS VERY HESITANT TO SPEAK, BECAUSE THE FLAG HAS A
SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE TO ME. IN -- IN 2001, MY DAUGHTER JOINED THE
MARINE CORPS. CAME HOME, SHE WAS A SENIOR, SHE SAID, DAD, I'M
JOINING THE MARINE CORPS. SHE HAD ALREADY BEEN ACCEPTED TO THE
COLLEGE OF HER CHOICE. AND I SAID, REALLY? APPARENTLY, SOME RECRUITER
HAD MADE THE STATEMENT THAT THE MARINE CORPS WAS LOOKING FOR A FEW
GOOD MEN. AND SHE TOOK THAT AS A QUITE A CHALLENGE. SHE JOINED THE
MARINE CORPS AND SIGNED UP FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE.
ANOTHER SURPRISE TO ME, FOR A GREAT DAUGHTER, GREAT IN SCHOOL, I WASN'T
SURE SHE COULD CHANGE A TIRE.
BUT IN 2004, SHE VOLUNTEERED FOR A SPECIAL UNIT. AND
SHE WENT TO IRAQ WITH THE MARINE CORPS' FIRST MORTUARY AFFAIRS UNIT.
AND THIS WAS AT A TIME WHEN THE MARINES WERE RETAKING FALLUJAH. AND
WHEN SHE CAME BACK, I REACHED OUT TO HER, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SHE WAS
A MESS. AND SHE SAID, DAD, YOU JUST WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND. EVENTUALLY,
SHE GOT HER LIFE BACK TOGETHER ENOUGH TO GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND
WHEN SHE GRADUATED SHE WENT ON TO SUNY FREDONIA. SHE WENT BACK
AFTERWARDS, AND WITH THE HELP OF A PROFESSOR, WROTE A BOOK ABOUT HER
EXPERIENCE. AND AFTER SHE HAD WRITTEN THE MANUSCRIPT, SHE PUT IT ASIDE
FOR MONTHS, BECAUSE IT WAS TOO PAINFUL TO PROOFREAD. EVENTUALLY, SHE
PUBLISHED IT, AND I GOT A COPY OF THE BOOK AND I READ IT. AND MY
DAUGHTER WAS RIGHT, I DID NOT AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WENT
THROUGH.
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BUT I WANT TO SHARE JUST ONE PASSAGE FROM THAT BOOK
THAT RELATES TO OUR FLAG. AND HER JOB IN IRAQ WAS TO PROCESS ALL THE
FALLEN SOLDIERS. AND WHEN THEY WERE DONE INVENTORYING EVERYTHING,
DOING ALL THE RECORDKEEPING, THIS IS WHAT SHE WROTE, "WE WOULD THEN
PUT THE REMAINS IN A CLEAN BOX, IN A CLEAN BODY BAG AND PUT THE BAG IN
A METAL BOX THAT WE CALLED AN 'ALUMINUM TRANSFER CASE,' SIMILAR TO A
COFFIN. WE THEN PLACED THE CASE IN A REEFER WHERE IT STAYED COOL AND
WHEN IT WAS TIME TO TAKE..." THE FLIGHT -- "TAKE IT TO THE FLIGHT DECK TO GO
HOME, WE WOULD DRAPE AN AMERICAN FLAG OVER THAT BOX AND CARRY OUT A
PROCESSIONAL, A SEPARATE ONE FOR EACH SET OF REMAINS. FOUR OF US, ONE AT
EACH CORNER OF THE CASE, WOULD WALK IT THROUGH TWO ROWS OF AIR FORCE
PERSONNEL WHO WERE THERE TO DO THE FLYING. THEY WOULD ALL SALUTE THE
REMAINS AS WE WALKED THROUGH. THEY WOULD SALUTE AS IF THEY WERE
SALUTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AS IF THEY WERE SALUTING
THEIR OWN FALLEN FAMILY MEMBERS, RAMROD STRAIGHT BACKS, THEIR ARMS AT
A 45-DEGREE ANGLE. THERE WAS SUCH A STRONG EMOTION CONTAINED IN THAT
SALUTE."
I DIDN'T RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE I THOUGHT NEW YORK
STATE WAS PERFECT, OR THAT THE UNITED STATES WAS PERFECT. I RAN FOR
OFFICE BECAUSE I HOPED THAT MY SERVICE IN SOME WAY WOULD MAKE IT
BETTER. BUT WHEN I SEE THAT FLAG, IT REMINDS ME OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY GREATER.
ALL OF US ARE HERE WITH THE HOPES THAT OUR INPUT WILL MAKE THIS GREAT
STATE EVEN GREATER, AND THIS GREAT COUNTRY EACH MORE GREAT. BUT WE
NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE FLAG WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BOUGHT AT AN
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
INCREDIBLE PRICE BY OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT EVERYTHING ON
THE LINE TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RAMOS.
MR. RAMOS: MR. SPEAKER, I SALUTE THIS FLAG. I
COMMEND THIS FLAG. I LOVE THIS FLAG AND I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. BUT I
TRULY FEEL THAT WHAT I SEE IS WHAT THIS FLAG IS, NOT EVERYBODY SEES IN THE
SAME WAY. WHAT I FEEL THE PRINCIPLES OF THIS FLAG ARE, ARE NOT SEEN THE
SAME, AND THAT'S APPARENT IN -- IN THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE HEAR TODAY.
WHILE I LOOK AT THIS FLAG AND I SEE A FLAG THAT, TO ME, REPRESENTS WE
WELCOME YOUR IMMIGRANTS WITH OPEN ARMS, WE WELCOME YOUR POOR.
OTHER PEOPLE WILL SEE THIS FLAG AND SAY, NO, WE ONLY WELCOME PEOPLE
WITH PH.D.S. AND WE OPENLY WELCOME PEOPLE FROM NORWAY AND
ANGLO COUNTRIES, AND NOT FROM HAITI. OTHER PEOPLE THINK THAT WHEN
THEY SEE THIS FLAG.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS FLAG, I LOOK AT A FLAG THAT'S
HUMANE, AND I BELIEVE ITS PRINCIPLES ARE SOMETHING HUMANE, WHILE
OTHERS SEE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM WITH RIPPING A CHILD AWAY FROM A
MOTHER WHO'S BREASTFEEDING IN THE IMMIGRATION -- IN AN IMMIGRATION
JAIL. THIS FLAG HAS CERTAIN PRINCIPLES, REPRESENTS CERTAIN THINGS. BUT
MEN HAVE HISTORICALLY TAKEN THE PRINCIPLES OF THAT FLAG AND USURPED IT
INTO SOMETHING ELSE, FROM THE FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY. I BELIEVE IN
THIS FLAG. I BELIEVE IN WHAT THIS FLAG IS TODAY. IT WASN'T ALWAYS THE FLAG
THAT IT IS TODAY BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS FIRST SEWN, IT FLEW OVER PEOPLE WHO
WERE IMPRISONED AND WHO WERE IN SLAVERY. IT FLEW OVER WOMEN WHO
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WERE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE AND WERE TREATED AS PROPERTY. AND IT FLEW
OVER MANY WHO WERE -- WHO DID NOT HAVE THAT SAME EQUAL RIGHTS. IT
FLEW OVER FOUNDING FATHERS WHO OWNED OTHER HUMAN BEINGS,
INCLUDING GEORGE WASHINGTON, WHO HAD SLAVES ESCAPE FROM HIM.
WHAT KIND OF CONDITIONS WERE THEY LIVING IN? THOMAS JEFFERSON, WHO
ACTUALLY RAPED SLAVES.
AND FOR SOMEBODY TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY, YOU
KNOW, I LOVE THIS FLAG, AND SOMEBODY WHO SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS
HISTORY IS DISRESPECTING THE MANY MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED IN WARS, I
THINK THEIR IDEA IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT MY IDEA IS. BECAUSE THE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO -- WHO DIED IN THE WAR SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS
COUNTRY, INCLUDED PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THAT
CREATED THIS COUNTRY HAD BLACK MEN FIGHTING IN IT, WHO AT THE END WERE
NOT GIVEN -- THEY WERE NOT GIVEN FREEDOM. SLAVERY CONTINUED. SAME
THING IN THE CIVIL WAR. PEOPLE OF COLOR FOUGHT IN THAT WAR, IN THE
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, IN WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, BLACKS AND
HISPANICS FOUGHT IN THAT WAR SIDE BY SIDE WITH THOSE VETERANS THAT YOU
SAY WE'RE DISRESPECTING BY BRINGING UP SOME -- SOME STAINS IN OUR
HISTORY. THEY FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY, BUT THEY COULDN'T USE THE SAME
BATHROOM THAT THEIR COLLEAGUES COULD USE. AND THEY DIED FOR THIS
COUNTRY, AS WELL. THAT'S WHAT I SEE. THAT'S WHAT I SEE WHEN I SEE
SACRIFICING WHEN I SEE OUR SOLDIERS. AND I ALSO SEE MY RIGHT TO GET UP
HERE AND TALK ABOUT THAT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A MORE PERFECT UNION, SO
THAT WE DON'T REPEAT THOSE MISTAKES, SO THAT WE REMIND OURSELVES THAT
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FLAG, WE DON'T SEE NEO-NAZIS AND KKK AS GOOD
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
PEOPLE, THE SAME AS PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTESTING AGAINST WHAT THOSE
INSTITUTIONS STAND FOR.
WE LIVE IN TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS. I STOOD UP TODAY, AS
EVERYBODY ELSE DID, AND PLEDGED ALLEGIANCE TO THIS FLAG, THIS FLAG THAT I
LOVE SO MUCH. BUT IT IS WITH MUCH PRIDE THAT WE ASK THIS FLAG AND ITS
CITIZENS TO LIVE UP TO ITS IDEALS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. JOHNS.
MR. JOHNS: YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE
TODAY TO ADD MY VOICE TO THIS RESOLUTION, THANKS TO THE SPONSOR OF THE
RESOLUTION. YOU KNOW, THE FLAG MEANS A LOT TO ME. YOU CAN SEE I'M
WEARING A FLAG TIE TODAY. AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER JUNE 14TH BECAUSE IT
WAS MY MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY, SO... SHE'D BE 104 TODAY. AND... SO I -- I
ALWAYS KNEW THE FLAG WAS -- YOU KNOW, FLAG DAY WAS COMING AND I
MADE SURE I BROUGHT THE TIES IN ADVANCE.
BUT GOING BACK, MY FATHER WAS A WORLD WAR II
VETERAN. AND HE WAS INJURED, HE WAS BLOWN UP IN THE BATTLE OF THE
BULGE. HE JOINED THE U.S. ARMY IN THE 1930S DURING THE DEPRESSION,
BECAME A SERGEANT, PROBABLY COULD HAVE STAYED HERE AND TRAINED THE
TROOPS, BUT HE VOLUNTEERED, HE WENT TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF
OPERATION, STORMED THE BEACHES AT NORMANDY, MADE IT ALL THE WAY
THROUGH UNTIL JANUARY OF '45 WITH THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, WHICH WAS
"THE" BIGGEST, THE MOST DEADLY. HE WAS BLOWN UP, HE GOT A LOT OF
SHRAPNEL IN HIS LEGS, SO GANGRENE SET IN THEN AND BACK IN THOSE DAYS,
YOU COULDN'T MEDIVAC PEOPLE OUT. SO WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT HIM OUT
AND ON A PLANE BACK TO ENGLAND, IT TURNED OUT IT WAS A GERMAN REFUGEE
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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2018
DOCTOR THAT HAD TO AMPUTATE ONE LEG. AND THE OTHER LEG WAS -- HE WAS --
IT WAS KIND OF MANGLED UP, AS WELL.
SO, HE SPENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AT WALTER REED ARMY
HOSPITAL DOWN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT'S WHERE MY MOM AND DAD
MET. AND MY MOTHER WOULD TELL US STORIES, NOT ONLY ABOUT WHAT MY
FATHER WENT THROUGH, BUT ABOUT SOME OF THE DARK TIMES THAT SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT, ABOUT HOW, NO MATTER WHAT WENT WRONG
DOWN IN WASHINGTON BACK IN THE LATE '40S, THEY WOULD ALWAYS FIND A
BLACK MAN AND PIN THE BLAME ON HIM SO EVERYBODY COULD FEEL GOOD,
AND MAYBE A RAPIST OR A MURDERER WOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE STREET.
AND IN THE LATE '50S, MY MOTHER TOOK MY BROTHER AND
I, AND WE WERE LITTLE KIDS, AND MY BROTHER WAS EVEN YOUNGER THAN ME,
SHE TOOK US DOWN NOT ONLY GETTYSBURG, BUT DOWN INTO VIRGINIA, BACK IN
THE DAYS WHEN WE SAW DRINKING FOUNTAINS THAT SAID, "WHITES ONLY".
BATHROOMS THAT SAID, "WHITES ONLY". MY MOTHER SAID, LOOK AT THIS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE TOWN WE WERE FROM, THERE
WERE NO BLACK PEOPLE. BUT, SHE POINTED THIS OUT AND SAID, THIS IS GOING
TO BE GONE SOMEDAY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS. AND SO I KNOW OF THE DARK
HISTORY. I LEARNED IT AT A YOUNG AGE.
BUT OUR COUNTRY'S GOT A LOT OF GOOD HISTORY, AS WELL.
WE FREED EUROPE FROM THE NAZI AGGRESSION. FREED THE FAR EAST FROM
JAPAN, JAPANESE AGGRESSION. AND I CAN TELL YOU I'M PROUD OF THIS
COUNTRY, WITH ALL ITS FAULTS. I'M PROUD OF ALL MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
HERE. YOU KNOW THAT... GET A LITTLE -- GET A LITTLE CHOKED UP ABOUT THIS,
BUT THE COUNTRY THAT WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW, AS BAD AS IT IS, WE HAVE
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MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME TO AMERICA AND MILLIONS MORE
THAT SNEAK INTO THIS COUNTRY. THIS COUNTRY MAY BE IS BAD, WE HAVE A LOT
OF FAULTS, I THINK WE'RE GETTING BETTER. BUT PEOPLE STILL WANT TO COME
HERE. WE ARE STILL, I THINK, THE "SHINING CITY ON THE HILLTOP" THAT RONALD
REAGAN USED TO TALK ABOUT. AND HOPEFULLY, WE WILL GET BETTER.
BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS A
GREAT THING. AS I SAY, I WORE THE FLAG IN HONOR OF THE DAY. AND THANK
YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. LENTOL.
MR. LENTOL: I KNOW THAT I'M THE LAST SPEAKER, MR.
SPEAKER, SO I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. I -- I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK AND I DIDN'T
WANT TO STAY BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE HOME, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
RESOLUTION THAT WE ALL HAVE TO ADDRESS. AND IT ISN'T BLACK AND WHITE,
BUT IT IS BLACK AND WHITE, ISN'T IT?
AND SO, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE REALLY HAVE
TO THINK ABOUT HARD. AND I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AS I'VE HEARD ALL OF THE
SPEAKERS ADDRESS THE ISSUE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING: I HAVE
TWO FLAGS UP HERE (INDICATING). I HAVE THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, AND I HAVE A GAY PRIDE FLAG. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M
PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM BEING ON MY DESK. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO USE
ANY PROPS EITHER, MR. SPEAKER.
SO, MY GRANDFATHER WAS ELECTED TO THIS BODY AS AN
IMMIGRANT WHO CAME FROM ITALY IN THE 1800S AND BECAME A MEMBER OF
THE ASSEMBLY IN 1919, 100 YEARS AGO. AND HE CLEANED SPITTOONS IN A
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BARBER SHOP AS HE GREW UP, WITH NO EDUCATION WHATSOEVER, AND BEGAN
TO LEARN ENGLISH, AS A PERSON WHO SPOKE ONLY ITALIAN WHEN HE GOT HERE.
AND HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY BY EDUCATING HIMSELF
WITHOUT ANY FORMAL EDUCATION BECAUSE HE LIVED IN A COUNTRY THAT
ALLOWED HIM TO DO IT AT THE TIME. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT IT WASN'T --
THERE WASN'T PERSECUTION OF ITALIANS IN THAT ERA, BECAUSE THERE WAS.
AND HE WAS PERSECUTED, JUST LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. BUT HE HAD ONE ADVANTAGE OVER
SOMEBODY WITH DARK SKIN, BECAUSE HE WAS LIGHT SKINNED AND WAS ABLE
TO KIND OF ESCAPE THE COLOR LINE.
SO, WHEN I THINK OF THIS FLAG, I THINK PROUDLY OF THIS
FLAG AND I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND I'M PROUD THAT A
HAITIAN-AMERICAN IS THE SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, BECAUSE SHE
UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIKE
I DO.
AND I ALSO LOOK AT THE OTHER FLAG AND UNDERSTAND THAT I
WAS IN AN OPPONENT OF GAY RIGHTS AT ONE TIME IN MY LIFE, THAT I WAS AN
OPPONENT OF GAY MARRIAGE. BUT MY HEAD WAS TURNED AROUND BECAUSE I
RECOGNIZED THAT IF I WANTED TO STAND FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, I HAD TO STAND FOR
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE. AND I NO LONGER AM ASHAMED OF THIS FLAG
SHOWING THAT I -- THAT I SUPPORT GAY RIGHTS, JUST AS I AM NO LONGER
ASHAMED OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND I
UNDERSTAND THE SHORTCOMINGS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE WILL OVERCOME
THOSE SHORTCOMINGS IN TIME. AND IT WON'T BE TOO LATE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE
IN OUR COUNTRY. I BELIEVE IN THE VALUES THAT WERE PUT FORWARD, AND
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WE'RE LIVING THROUGH A PERIOD THAT MAKES IT HARD, MR. SPEAKER, TO
MAYBE STAND ERECT AND PROUD OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BECAUSE
OF WHAT WE BELIEVE -- SOME US BELIEVE IT HAS GONE ASTRAY.
BUT WE WILL FIND OUR WAY BACK AND WE WILL, ONCE
AGAIN, BE PROUD OF THIS FLAG. AND I AM ALWAYS GOING TO BE PROUD OF
THIS FLAG FOREVER, IN SPITE OF ITS SHORTCOMINGS, BECAUSE AFTER ALL, I AM AN
AMERICAN, AND ALL OF US IN THIS CHAMBER ARE AMERICANS. AND I SUBMIT
THAT WE SHOULD STAND PROUDLY AND ALWAYS SALUTE THE FLAG OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BARNWELL.
MR. BARNWELL: THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK. I ALSO WASN'T TO GOING TO SPEAK, I KNOW EVERYONE WANTS TO GET
HOME. THIS COUNTRY HAS A LOT OF SINS TO -- TO ATONE FOR. AND EVERYONE
HAS SAID A -- A GREAT DEAL ON -- ON ALL SIDES, AND THEY'RE ALL RIGHT. BUT
THE ONE THING I WILL SAY IS IS THAT WHAT IT MEANS TO THE PEOPLE IS ALL
DIFFERENT, BUT WHEN SOMEONE -- WHEN A -- WHEN A GRIEVING WIDOW OR A
GRIEVING PARENT DIES -- I'M SORRY. WHEN -- WHEN THE SOLDIERS DIES, WHAT
DOES THE PARENT GET? WHAT DOES THE WIFE GET? WHAT DOES THE HUSBAND
GET? THEY GET THE FLAG. THAT'S THE LAST THING SOME PEOPLE HAVE OF -- OF
THEIR -- OF THEIR CHILD OR THEIR -- THEIR BROTHER OR THEIR SISTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT MEANS A LOT TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PEOPLE, AND -- BUT TO SOME PEOPLE, IT'S ALL THEY HAVE LEFT. AND I THINK
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT THE FLAG.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
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ADOPTED.
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MR. SPEAKER, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING
AND RESOLUTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY, MR.
MORELLE.
ON A MOTION BY MS. SOLAGES, PAGE 93, CALENDAR NO.
876, BILL A-8788-A, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
ON A MOTION BY MS. JOYNER, PAGE 94, CALENDAR NO.
902, BILL NO. 1936, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
ON BEHALF OF MRS. BARRETT, BILL NO. 2809-A,
ASSEMBLY BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE
OF THE BILL.
THE CLERK: AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THERE IS A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.
THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE. )
THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.)
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE, THE AMENDMENTS ARE
RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
ON BEHALF OF MS. ROSENTHAL, BILL NO. 8393-A,
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ASSEMBLY BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE
OF THE BILL.
THE CLERK: AN ACT TO THE AMEND ELECTION LAW.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THERE IS A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.
THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS THE BEFORE THE HOUSE, THE AMENDMENTS
RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
ON BEHALF OF MR. VANEL, BILL NO. 8783-A, ASSEMBLY
BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL.
THE CLERK: AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE DIGITAL
CURRENCY TASK FORCE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THERE IS A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE. THE CLERK
WILL RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE
RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
ON BEHALF OF MS. PELLEGRINO, BILL NO. 10157,
ASSEMBLY BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE
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OF THE BILL.
THE CLERK: AN ACT TO AMEND THE BANKING LAW.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THERE IS A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE. THE CLERK
WILL RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL THE BEFORE THE HOUSE AND THE AMENDMENTS
ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
ON BEHALF OF MS. LUPARDO, BILL NO. 10774, ASSEMBLY
BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL.
THE CLERK: AN ACT CREATING THE RADON TASK
FORCE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THERE IS A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.
THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE, THE AMENDMENTS ARE
RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.
WE HAVE NUMEROUS OTHER RESOLUTIONS, WHICH WE WILL
TAKE UP IN ONE VOTE. ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.
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(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 1377-1379
WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.)
MR. MORELLE.
MR. MORELLE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I NOW
MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL FRIDAY, JUNE 15TH,
TOMORROW IS A LEGISLATIVE DAY, AND THAT WE RECONVENE AT 1:00 P.M. ON
MONDAY, 1:00 P.M., JUNE 18TH. MONDAY WILL BE A SESSION DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE ASSEMBLY STANDS
ADJOURNED.
(WHEREUPON, AT 4:38 P.M., THE ASSEMBLY STOOD
ADJOURNED UNTIL FRIDAY, JUNE 15TH, FRIDAY BEING A LEGISLATIVE DAY, AND
TO RECONVENE ON MONDAY, JUNE 18TH AT 1:00 P.M., MONDAY BEING A
SESSION DAY.)
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