ACTION, NOT RHETORIC: AN OPEN LETTER FROM FRANCINE DELMONTE

 I’ve been a tireless advocate for Niagara County families by voting to increase transparency, reform state government, reduce state spending and offer real tax relief to working families. It’s been alleged that my priorities aren’t in line with Niagara’s needs, and that I’m perfectly satisfied with business as usual in Albany. Truth is I share your growing frustration with the status quo, a fact illustrated by my record, and I have stood in support with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo when he has unveiled measures calling for pension, campaign and government reforms.

This year, for example, I supported comprehensive ethics reform legislation that would’ve shed long-overdue light on our political process (A.9544). The package, widely hailed by good government groups, aimed to:

· create an investigative body to oversee legislative ethics;

· require greater disclosure from lobbyists;

· restore an independent lobbying commission;

· require greater information regarding legislators’ outside sources of income; and

· create a body within the state Board of Elections to enforce greater adherence to campaign finance laws.

Although the governor ultimately shot down the package, I successfully backed a like-minded law prohibiting politicians and their employees from using state property, services or resources for private business purposes (Chapter 1 of 2010).

A growing number of anonymous politically charged phone calls over the years into my district focused my attention on authoring legislation that would require campaign literature and other mass media, such as advertisements, robo calls, speeches and press releases, to identify the person, political party or committee authorizing the material (A.813). I also supported legislation to require that independently funded political communications costing more than $1,000 identify the funding source and report the communication to the state Board of Elections (A.11350). That bill responds directly to the recent U.S.Supreme Court decision that will allow special interests, lobbyists and corporations to spend unlimited sums of money to influence an election. Both these measures promise to expose specialinterests who seek to influence our elections and would create a more transparent, fairer election process in New York State.

But all’s for naught if your duly-elected representatives don’t address the problems affecting you and your bottom line, which is why I voted for a budget bill that consolidates state agencies, saving taxpayers $9 million this year and $30 million next year. And true to my word, I continue to oppose the inclusion of any new taxes, fees or borrowing at a time when you, and an over-extended state, can least afford it.

I was elected to serve you, your interests and those of our community, and that’s not a job Itake lightly – nor have I forgotten it. Albany is in dire need of change, and I’m working for reform every day.

COFFEE ATTACKS SCHNEIDERMAN FOR HAVING PASSED: “VERY FEW” BILLS IN SENATE

Democratic Attorney General candidate Sean Coffey attacked his opponent, State Senator Erie Schneiderman on Tuesday for the latter’s lack of willingness to support a property tax cap and for his admission that he has passed “very few” bills during his Albany career, quoting the Senator’s own words. According to a Coffee press release, this former Navy officer is standing by his proposals “not to raise taxes and protect the fledging economic recovery in the state.”

Coffey also called on Senator Schneiderman to join him in supporting a local property tax cap as well as eliminating the ‘public corruption tax.’

“I stand firmly with Attorney General Cuomo on tax policy, including his proposed property tax cap. I would welcome Sen. Schneiderman’s support. As New Yorkers face the greatest recession in a generation, now is not the time to raise taxes on New Yorkers. Doing so would only undercut President Obama’s economic recovery program and kill off job creation. So we need to cut taxes. But we also need to cut the waste in Albany. Perhaps the biggest threat to New York’s fragile economic recovery are the politicians in Albany who can’t seem to pass a balanced budget or effectively root out public corruption.”

THOMPSON INITIATIVES ABOUND FROM THE GREEN INITIATIVE INSTITUTE TO THE NIAGARA ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER TO THE NIAGARA FALLS TRAIN STATION

Imagine the establishment of a Green Initiative Institute in Western New York that would offer grants to green entrepreneurs while serving as an all-purpose business incubator for up and coming green enterprises?

Fortunately, before long none of us will have to use our imaginations to conjure up such a vision, thanks to a $2 million appropriation secured by Niagara Falls NYS Senator Antoine Thompson.

“There are going to be only two of these Green Initiative Institutes, one on Long Island and one in Buffalo,” he reports. “The result will be that business people who live in Niagara Falls who have an idea for a green business enterprise that is commerically viable will have a place to go to apply for grants, share ideas, and get other help that will hopefully turn their greeni initiative into a success.”

Of course the Senator’s status as Chairman of the NYS Senate Environmental Committee couldn’t have hurt when it came to deciding where these Green Initiative Institutes would be located.

In fact, far from being a newcomer to the Environmental Movement, Senator Thompson has been holding events that encourage green entrepreneurs for years. His annual Green Expos for environmentally conscious entrepreneurs have grown exponentially..

“Participation in these Green Expos has doubled from the first year to the second,” he reports. “Obviously, interest in green technology is increasing because people understand as I do that it is the key to the economic development of the future for WNY.”

Still, traditional projects can’t be ignored either.

“I have been able to secure a lot of funding for Niagara Falls including money for roof repairs for the John Duke Center in Hyde Park as well as work on the Niagara Falls Train Station and the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center,” he adds. “Obviously, Niagara Falls is an international center for tourism and it is very important that its facilities be maintained and enhanced. All of these projects are crucial to maintaining and improving the quality of life for our people here in the Buffalo/Grand Island/Niagara Falls area as well as improving opportunities for job creation.”

And, all of this in addition to doing all he can to improve education and access to quality health care for all of all.

“I love this job because it gives me the opportunity to help people,” Senator Thompson concludes. “To me serving the people of Niagara Falls and WNY is the best job in the world.”

 ACCARDO CHALLENGES MEDICAID STANCE

Assembly candidate John Accardo has called for more aggressive control of New York’s Medicaid programs.

“The taxpayers of New York State cannot continue to subsidize the most lavish Medicaid program in the United States,” begins Accardo.

“Do the math,” Accardo says, ” you don’t have to be a genius to figure out that something is wrong when seven per cent of this Country’s population ( New York State) uses more than 14 % of the total Medicaid dollars spent nationwide.”

Laying the blame directly at the feet of Albany representatives, Accardo describes $49 billion in annual Medicaid Budget spending as reckless. “We have nobody to fault but ourselves for allowing Medicaid expenditures to run wild. Think about it, the average Medicaid payment per enrollee in New York State is $7,927. That amount per enrollee is more than the cost would be than if you combined the enrollee expenditures in the States of Texas and California.”

“I, in principle support providing Medicaid Services to those in need,” admits the former Niagara Falls City Councilman, “but the failure of State agencies to adequately police Medicaid continues to cripple our local governments.”

“Remember,” warns Accardo, “half of the non-federal cost of Medicaid programs falls directly on the backs of taxpayers throughout the counties of New York State. Sadly, New York is the only State in this Country where a portion of the State’s Medicaid costs is passed down to the counties. These costs can only be defrayed by higher property and sales taxes or a reduction in local services.”

Today, Medicaid consumes about one-third of New York State’s total budget, more than twice the national average. “The political sensitivity of questioning Medicaid, the threat of services to the less fortunate,” recognizes Accardo, “has weakened the intensity of any re-designing of Medicaid programs.”

“For years we have had elected officials, from the Governor’s office on down,” points out Accardo,”who ran for office preaching Medicaid reform, but when they were elected, simply became part of the problem.” Accardo uses former Governor George Pataki as an example.

“When Pataki took control of the governor’s office, he vowed to address Medicaid abuse,” claims Accardo, “by the time he left Albany, Medicaid spending in New York State had doubled.”

Admitting the task of Medicaid reform is an enormous one, Accardo says what ever we are doing now is not enough. “We must ask ourselves where do we begin? We begin by picking specific shortcomings of the program and attack them head-on. ”

“For example, Pharmacies are not required to deliver generic prescriptions to Medicaid enrollees,” outlines Accardo.”Unlike so many of us with private insurance, enrollees are prescribed name brand drugs. Unbelievably, if Medicaid enrollees were simply required to use generic drugs the costs savings in Niagara County, alone, could reach $2 million annually. Statewide the savings could top $200 million. I am committed to introducing legislation that will make generic prescriptions the rule rather than the exception for New York State Medicaid participants.”

Accardo remains deeply troubled by the wealthy elderly who deliberately rid themselves of personal assets to qualify for Medicaid nursing home coverage. “Where does qualification stop and fraud begin,” questions Accardo. “The intent of Medicaid was never to underwrite the expenses of the self-sustaining members of our society. Popular or not, the retroactive time frame for assessing personal assets should have been expanded long ago , an expansion only enabled by specific legislation. I have every intention of introducing such legislation.”

“As we work to improve the efficiency of New York‘s Medicaid initiatives,” ends Accardo “we do so knowing we can’t afford things the way they are, nor can future generations of New Yorkers

SENATOR THOMPSON ON SCHNEIDERMAN: “THE PROGRESSIVE LEADER WE NEED”

NYS Senator Antoine Thompson endorsed State Senator Eric Schneiderman for the Democratic nomnation for Attorney General of the State of New York on Monday. The Senator praised his colleague for his courage as an advocate for progressive causes.

“I don’t think I’ve ever told Eric this, but I’ve admired him for years for his courage in being willing to speak out for issues such as access to quality health care and a living wage for all New Yorkers,” he said. “Eric Schneiderman is the progressive leader we need to deliver justice as our next Attorney General. With his long record as an attorney, lawmaker, and advocate, Eric has proven that he will work hard for New Yorkers from every corner of this state.”

When it came time for Senator Schneiderman to speak, he characterized his career in public office as an extension of what he was already doing as a citizen activist and attorney.

“I have always been an advocate for universal health care for all and for equal justice for all and I’m still an advocate for those things today,” he said.. “One thing I’ve never been is a supporter of the status quo. Instead, I have always challenged the status quo on behalf of the interests of all of us.”

“Also I have never been afraid to take chances if I believe that something is the right thing to do,” he continued. “For example, I took the chairmanship of the committe that looked into issues related to former Senator Hiram Monserrate, even though people told me that was political suicide. I’ve always been the kind of public servant who walks the walk, rather than just talking the talk.”

WILL LAZIO’S MONEY WOES LEAD TO A PALADINO WIN?

What’s new in gubernatorial politics?…Well, this week endorsed Republican candidate for governor Rick Lazio reported in official filings that his campaign has only $688,000 in the bank. That means Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the endorsed Democratic nominee for governor, has a roughly 34-to-1 cash advantage over Rick, with a record $23.6 million in the AG’s campaign account.

Even more troubling for state-wide Republicans is the fact that Cuomo is receiving donations from Republican stalwarts, including WNY’s own former GOP US Attorney and former NYS Attorney General Dennis Vacco who donated $1,000 to Andrew, possibly as part of his role as an Albany lobbyist. In fact, Lazio’s financial condition is so bad that the former Long Island Congressman had to lend his campaign $200,000 just to avoid ending the filing period spending more money than he took in.

As a result, some observers are now saying that Lazio’s lack of funding could render him vulnerable to a Carl Paladino Republican primary challenge that could be financed with $10 million in the local developer’s own funds. Still, the Lazio campaign doesn’t see it that way.

“Following Rick’s commanding reception at the state convention, we had a dramatic increase in fund-raising, which brings our total amount raised to well over $3 million,” Barney Keller, the campaign’s spokesman, said recently. “Seventy percent of the contributors have come in the last six months. We expect our fund-raising pace to continue to increase.”

The one fiscal bright spot for Empire State Republicans is the candidacy of former hedge fund manager Harry Wilson for state comptroller. He has more than twice as much money in his campaign coffers as Lazio and, much more important, considerably more than the incumbent comptroller, Democrat Thomas DiNapoli.

Siena College Poll: