Statement from Senator Rob Ortt on Hochul Administration Prioritizing Non-White People in Distributing COVID-19 Treatments

We are not even a full week into the new year and Democrat leaders are already despicably playing identity politics with the pandemic. It is unacceptable that an official New York State COVID memorandum contains language suggesting that the color of one’s skin will be a factor in whether he or she has access to COVID treatment. There should only be one basis for treatment; and that is medical need.

We saw the downfall of Andrew Cuomo because his power went unchallenged for so many years. The Legislature must fulfill its constitutional duty to provide a check on the Governor’s office and block ridiculous policies like these that pit New Yorkers against one another. This is wrong, our state deserves better, and if the Hochul Administration is serious about leadership, they would be well advised to immediately withdraw this policy.

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