What You Should Know

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

Tel. 718-991-3161

A Vote Against Senior Citizens and the Poor

You should know that it was very painful, disappointing and heartbreaking to see some Democrats in the Senate joining the Republicans to vote for a bill that would hurt senior citizens and the poor of New York State.

Senator John DeFrancisco’s piece of legislation, Senate Bill 4749 was introduced and passed on the Senate Floor on Monday, June 18th and will force patients receiving Medicaid and Family Health Plus wi to make pay co-payments for their medication at the point of sale at the pharmacy - or go without their medication.

As you know, it is extremely difficult for too many of New York State’s senior citizens and so many poor and less fortunate New Yorkers to afford these co-payments.

Growing numbers of New Yorkers – especially our senior citizens – don’t have enough money to buy food or basic items, and have no money to pay for so many things that other people take for granted. It is a disgrace to now force them to pay these co-payments at the time of purchase when they might not have the money at that precise time when they need their medication.

As you know, it has been the duty of the Democratic Party to fight, protect and defend the poor at all times. Being a Democrat means not only voting for gay marriage and abortion. Being a Democrat means fighting for the poor and always protecting programs that care for the weak and the needy.

It was very painful for me to see Democratic Senators such as Senator Joseph Addabbo, Senator Jeffrey Klein, Senator Diane Savino, Senator David Carlucci and Senator David Valesky joining with Senator John DeFrancisco and the Republicans to vote for a piece of legislation that will hurt the most needy New Yorkers and our senior citizens.

During the debate of this piece of legislation, I took to the Senate Floor and asked a question of Senator DeFrancisco. The question I asked was, “Senator DeFrancisco, do you hate poor people?” I asked this because it seems to me that this piece of legislation is geared to force the poor to suffer more while at the same time they give tax breaks and freebies to the wealthiest New Yorkers. If you don’t believe me, check the Committee to Sell – I mean to Save – New York.

This legislation only hurts the poor!

We all know that the rich get richer and some legislators make laws to protect their assets. Again, I suggest that you should check the committee to sell- I mean to save New York. We also know that the poor get poorer because budgets are always balanced on their backs.

You should know my dear readers, it would have been so very nice to see every single Democrat in the New York State Senate stand in unity on the Senate Floor and vote to reject this piece of legislation.

We don’t have to like each other, but gay marriage and abortion are not everything that Democrats should stand united to defend. We’re supposed to join together and protect the poor and the needy and never, NEVER turn our backs on our senior citizens in order to please and get invited to the Executive Mansion for dinner by Governor Cuomo.

I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.