The Green Party will release their cost estimates for how much the city, the school district, and the county will save on the health care costs for their public employees if the New York Health Act now pending in the New York state senate is enacted.
What: News Conference: Savings to City from New York Health Act
Why: NY Health Act one vote short of passage after special state senate election yesterday
When: Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Time: 11 am
Location: In front of State Office Building, 301 E. Washington St., Syracuse
The Green Party will release their cost estimates for how much the city, the school district, and the county will save on the health care costs for their public employees if the New York Health Act now pending in the New York state senate is enacted.
With the election of single-payer supporter Brian Benjamin in a special election for the vacant state senate seat in Harlem on Tuesday, supporters of the New York Health Act are now only one vote short of passing the bill in the Senate, according a whip count by The Campaign for New York Health. The Assembly passed the bill by a 94-46 margin on May 16.
Three of the four state legislators representing the city of Syracuse support the New York Health Act, including Assemblymembers Pam Hunter and Bill Magnarelli and state Senator David Valesky. State Senator John DeFrancisco has been opposed.
The New York Health Act would set up a universal health insurance plan covering all New Yorkers for all medically necessary services. It would be paid for by a single public payer financed by progressively graduated taxes on payrolls and non-payroll income in New York and federal funds now received by New York for Medicare, Medicaid, Family Health Plus, and Child Health Plus. The payroll taxes paid by public employers like the city, school district, and county will be much lower than they now pay for private insurance plans.
“The savings would be more than enough to cover the recurring structural deficit the city faces,” said Howie Hawkins, the Green candidate for Syracuse mayor.
Frank Cetera, Green candidate for Syracuse councilor-at-large, will explain the positive impact of the New York Health Act for businesses and unions.
Serena “Rahzie” Seals, the Green candidate for 4th district councilor, will discuss what the New York Health Act will mean for workers like herself in the hospitality industry where health coverage is often limited, expensive, and intermittent.
