Senator Dale M. Volker Statement On County Executive Giambra's Comments

(Albany, NY) Several media outlets have had County Executive Joel Giambra on their talk shows where he has castigated myself and Assemblyman Paul Tokasz for not doing enough to be of assistance for Erie County on the Medicaid front. I would like to have the opportunity to clarify blatant misstatements made by the County Executive.

First, in partnership with Thomas Suozzi (President for the NYS County Executives Association and County Executive of Nassau County), Joel Giambra traveled around the state pushing for Medicaid Reform, specifically a cap on this health program for county governments. Last week, the State Legislature did just that and placed a cap on the Medicaid Program. In fact, the same Thomas Suozzi who Joel Giambra likes to mention in his reform movement recently sent me a letter thanking me and the members of the State Legislature for passing a cap on the Medicaid Program (See Attached Letter). It is obvious that Joel Giambra and Thomas Suozzi are not on the same page.

Thomas Suozzi thanks the Legislature, Joel Giambra states dissatisfaction. Which is it? One could deduct from his actions that his relationship with Thomas Suozzi could be conceived as a marriage of convenience. It continues to be standard operating public relations procedures in the Giambra camp to speak out of both sides of his mouth in order to divert attention to the obvious mismanagement of county finances and the statewide soiling of Erie County’s once proud reputation.

Joel Giambra wanted a cap on Medicaid, the State Legislature did it. Joel Giambra wanted a pilot demonstration project for the Medicaid program in Erie County, the State Legislature did it and it is up to Erie County to apply for the program. Joel Giambra wanted a Preferred Drug List and Prior Authorization program to stem Medicaid, the State Legislature did it. Joel Giambra wanted the state to take over the county’s portion of the Medicaid program, the State Legislature agreed to accelerate the takeover of the Family Health Plus program and entire Medicaid program. As the facts will show, the State Legislature acted appropriately and responsibly to assist the Erie County Executive from the financial mess that occurred under his helm.

Additionally, Joel Giambra talks about an $80 million pot of money for SEIU 1199, one of New York’s Health Care unions that represents health care workers such as nursing aids in long-term care facilities, hospitals and nursing homes. Lets correct the County Executive again. The money is not earmarked to SEIU 1199. It is directly earmarked to nursing homes, hospitals, and long-term care providers in order for them to retain employees at these facilities. In fact, most of these employees in upstate New York are not even represented by this health care union. Mind you, these are the same positions recently taken by some in the Erie County Parks Department now working at the Erie County Medical Center who have either quit or have called in sick because the environment of working with blood, human waste and other difficult health care scenarios that at times, are extremely dangerous and stressful. These are very difficult jobs, that are low-paying with high turnover rates. This $80 million job retention pool is warranted for the thousands of workers who care for our parents, our grandparents, family members and our children. For the County Executive to insinuate that it was due to some sort of payback based on campaign donations, is grossly pathetic, illogical, and blatant political mudslinging at its worse.

Erie County deserves the truth and it is my hope that the County Executive can come back to his senses and work in a cooperative manner to improve the lives of Erie County taxpayers.