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Get on the Bus for Health Care
On Thursday, June 25th, Citizen Action and Health Care for America Now will be traveling to Washington, DC to rally for health care reform.
Buses will be leaving from most major cities across New York. Click here to RSVP!
Over 100 Grassroots Leaders Come to Albany to Protest Republican Coup in State Senate
Over one hundred voters and advocates, shocked and outraged at the yesterday's attempted Republican takeover of the State Senate, came from around New York today to protest yesterday's attempted coup d'etat. At the protest, outside renegade Democrat Pedro Espada's office, the voters and advocates said they would not let the people's agenda be silenced by a political power grab partially engineered by a billionaire who left the state to avoid paying his fair share of taxes.
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Representatives of Health Care for All New York (HCFANY) will be testifying at a critical hearing of the Assembly Insurance Committee to determine whether to move legislation this session (A.8280/S.5470) proposed by the Governor that would restore the authority of the State Insurance Department to regulate health insurance rates, and to tighten the standards as to how much of consumers’ health insurance premiums must be devoted to the payment of claims (known as the “Minimum Loss Ratio,” or MLR).
Click here (pdf) to read Citizen Action Policy Director Bob Cohen's testimony.
Op-Ed by Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York and Nick Nyhart, President of Public Campaign on the urgent need for public financing to be passed in New York.
"New York's elected officials have no choice but to raise money from big donors if they want to get re-elected. A public funding system that gives all qualified candidates the option of running for office with small donations from supporters, combined with enough public funds to be competitive, can change elections and free legislators from the pressure of raising money from those who want special influence."
Citizen Action addresses Senate on need for Fair Share Tax Reform
Albany 3.12.09: Jessica Wisneski, Legislative Director and Bob Cohen, Policy Director of CANY addressed the Senate Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform on the critical need to adopt progressive change for New York's personal income tax system.
New Citizen Action Study Says State Budget
Pushes People of Color Further Behind
Albany 3.3.09: Citizen Action, joined by organizations representing people of color, released a new report today finding that racial and ethnic disparities will be continued or compounded by the Executive Budget in education, higher education, health care, human services, and criminal and juvenile justice. The report calls for “Fair Share Tax Reform” to make state spending more equitable for communities of color in New York State.
Citizen Action Applauds Introduction of
Fair Share Tax Bill
Fair Share and Federal Stimulus Bill Together Will Jumpstart State Economy and Protect Education, Health Care, Other Services
Albany – Citizen Action of New York praised a group of State Senators for introducing today a “Fair Share Tax Reform” bill that would raise more than $6 billion in new revenue by increasing taxes on the 2% of wealthy New Yorkers that make more than $250,000 a year. more...
Organizations Call for a "Stimulus for the Rest of Us!"
Governor Should Spend Federal Funds on Education, Health Care, Other Services House of Representatives Vote Expected Today
Albany – A host of New York State organizations led by Citizen Action of New York today called on New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to join with President Obama to fight for a “stimulus for the rest of us:” a bill that provides priority funding to working families, and to states and localities for urgent needs like education and health care. The group also urged Governor Paterson to use the new federal dollars to protect state services – not as an excuse to avoid fair share tax reform to increase state revenues.
Governor's first State of the State Misses the Mark on Simplest Economic Solutions
Albany-1/7/09
In recent years, tax cuts for New York's richest have led to the state losing over $17 billion a year in revenue. With our state facing a $15 billion deficit in the coming fiscal year, it's critical that we bring some common sense back to the tax code: let's pass Fair Share Tax Reform.
Fair Share Tax Reform is simple. If you earn more than $250,000 a year, then you'll pay a little more in taxes. This could earn the state over $5 billion in additional revenue! Click here to send the Governor and the State Legislature a message. Tell them that they must share the sacrifice among all New Yorkers - not balance the budget on the backs of working families. Read CANY's response to the State of the State address here.
Paterson Budget Fails to Ask Wealthy to Share the Burden---Time for a Reversal of the Upside Down Policies of the Past, Says Citizen Action
Albany– Citizen Action of New York criticized the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget released today by Governor David Paterson for not increasing taxes on high-income individuals, which would have permitted him to avoid additional cuts to critical services New Yorkers depend on. Click here to read the full press release and visit FightTheCuts.org to speak out for a fair budget!
Who is Citizen Action?
We are a powerful membership organization working for economic, racial, social and environmental justice.
We stand for a society based on justice, liberty, and respect for privacy. We work for opportunity for all in our nation and the world. We want an America that builds partnerships for peace and democracy around the world.
