Senator Espaillat Calls on Senators Schumer, Gillibrand to Reject Republican Budget Which Will Devastate NY - Read The Letter

(New York, NY) – New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat (D – Manhattan/Bronx) slammed the Republican proposed federal budget which seeks to cut services for the poor and elderly while giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires. The Republican federal proposals, coming on the heels of New York State’s budget would harm working families and seniors, particularly in communities like the ones Sen. Espaillat represents.

 “While Medicare and Medicaid cuts would be harmful across the board, they pose a special danger to communities that have proportionally higher numbers of lower income families and seniors,” said State Senator Adriano Espaillat. “That’s why I am urging our United States senators to reject this right-wing ploy which showers corporations and the wealthy with tax giveaways while delivering punishing cuts to crucial services for middle-class and poor families.”

 Senator Espaillat wrote a letter to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand encouraging them to continue fighting for middle-class and poor New Yorkers. Senator Espaillat wrote: “As champions of New York’s working class and the elderly, I am confident you will continue to fight for New Yorkers. I ask that you please keep the communities I represent in mind as you take on Republican moves to destroy the middle class in favor of helping the corporate elite.”

See below for the full letter

Senator Charles E. Schumer

322 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington DC 20510

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

478 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington DC 20510

April 5, 2011

Dear Senators,

I write this letter with great urgency and angst, having learned about the Republican proposal for the federal budget. As strong advocates for our state, I have no doubt about your commitment to protecting New York from massive cuts that bring down the hammer on our working families and middle class. I am particularly concerned about the impact cuts would have on my state senate district, especially in light of the painful budget our state recently passed.

The Republican plan – a  $5.8 trillion cut that punishes working families and seniors while helping corporations and the wealthy – is dangerous and misguided. Furthermore, it will harm communities like the ones I represent on a disproportionate basis.

On one hand Republicans sound a fiscal alarm and use it as an excuse to slash Medicare and Medicaid; a long sought Republican move that would have severe consequences on the lives of seniors in New York and across the country. On the other hand the Republican proposal gives generous tax breaks to corporations, cutting rates by 10% despite the enormous impact this unfair giveaway will have on the deficit.

While this disingenuous push by the Republicans – spurred on by extremist Tea Party elements that are seemingly in control of the GOP – is bad for all Americans, it is simply devastating for the poor and the elderly. As a state senator who represents communities with unemployment rates that in recent times reached Depression Era levels, I am deeply troubled by the Republican budget proposal. This proposal comes on the heels of New York State Republicans’ successful effort to strip the millionaire’s tax from New York’s budget and slash funding to our schools by over a billion dollars.

As champions of New York’s working class and the elderly, I am confident you will continue to fight for New Yorkers. I ask that you please keep the communities I represent in mind as you take on Republican moves to destroy the middle class in favor of helping the corporate elite.

Please know that as you take on this fight on the federal level, I will continue to advocate for the vulnerable New Yorkers on a state-wide level. Thank you for your leadership. I look forward to continuing our close cooperation.

Sincerely,

Adriano Espaillat

New York State Senate

31^st District