State of New York Archives: on Health Care
Cynthia Nixon:
No one should suffer due to unaffordable health care
I was born in New York City, and I grew up in a one-bedroom fifth floor walk-up with my mom. I'm a proud public school graduate, and these days, an even prouder public school parent. For the last 17 years, I've traveled across this state
to fight for better schools, LGBTQ equality, and women's health care, including the right to choose.We could make sure that no one suffers because they can't afford health care in the wealthiest nation on earth.
Source: 2018 N. Y. governor campaign website CynthiaForNewYork.com
Mar 26, 2018
Donald Trump:
Coronavirus: Won't invoke oft-used Defense Production Act
The Defense Production Act has been invoked hundreds of times by Pres. Trump and his administration to ensure the procurement of vital equipment. Yet as governors plead with the president to use the law to force the production of ventilators and other
medical equipment to combat the coronavirus pandemic, he has treated it like a "break the glass" last resort, to be invoked only when all else fails. "You know, we're a country not based on nationalizing our business," Trump said. "Call a person over in
Venezuela, ask them how did nationalization of their businesses work out? Not too well."For the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has elected to rely on the volunteerism of the private sector to obtain additional personal protective equipment, virus test
kits and hospital equipment. He and his advisers have argued that using the act has been unnecessary, given the outpouring of support from large and small American companies that are retooling their factories to make masks, ventilators and gloves.
Source: N. Y. Times 2020 analysis of impeaching Trump
Mar 31, 2020
Elise Stefanik:
Repeal ObamaCare and replace with common sense solutions
Families and small businesses in the North Country want health care that works for them and fits their specific needs. Instead, ObamaCare has caused premiums to rise, coverage plans to be dropped, and small businesses to cut employees and reduce shifts
and work hours. This is not the way to reform health care to improve quality and increase access. My family's business lost our health care plan as a result of ObamaCare, and we are now forced to pay more for less coverage.
To lower costs and improve care, Elise believes we need to repeal ObamaCare and replace with common sense solutions; including to allow Upstate families and businesses to shop for insurance across state lines; pursue real tort reform; fight the waste,
fraud & abuse that costs our health care system billions each year; protect those with pre-existing conditions by funding state-level high-risk pools; and allow individuals and families to purchase insurance on the same tax-advantaged basis as businesses
Source: 2014 N. Y. House campaign website, EliseForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Joe DioGuardi:
Purpose of reform should have been to reduce the cost
Gillibrand said she's concerned about insurance companies raising premiums before the changes kick in. "It doesn't really start until 2014, and I will tell you many insurers have raised their rates," Gillibrand said. "I want a full investigation."
DioGuardi said the health care law should be repealed and restructured to rein in spending. "The whole purpose of health care reform should have been to reduce the cost of health care," he said. "It did not."
Source: WNYC News coverage of 2010 N. Y. Senate debate
Oct 15, 2010
John Katko:
Complete overhaul of ObamaCare
Q: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?A: Yes.
I support the complete overhaul of ObamaCare, whether that includes its formal repeal and replacement or well-crafted amendment based on consensus and common sense, preserving its most popular and cost effective provisions.
We need real, workable, and truly affordable health care reform that allows Americans to choose and control their own insurance coverage.
It must be patient-centered first and foremost, with decision-making controlled by the patient and his or her medical professionals, not bureaucrats and politicians.
Source: VoteSmart 2014 N. Y. Congressional Political Courage Test
Aug 30, 2014
John Katko:
Reform should be based on the free market
We need real, workable health care reform that allows Americans to choose and control their own insurance coverage. It must be patient-centered first and foremost, with decision-making controlled by the patient and his or
her medical professionals, not bureaucrats and politicians.Reform should be based on the free market and always protect consumer choice. It should encourage employers to provide portable health benefits and allow plans to be sold across state lines.
Source: 2014 N. Y. House campaign website, JohnKatkoForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Kirsten Gillibrand:
Investigate insurers until full program initiates in 2014
Gillibrand said the health care bill she helped pass last year is a strong one. But she said she's concerned about insurance companies raising premiums before the changes kick in. "It doesn't really start until 2014, and I will tell you many insurers
have raised their rates," Gillibrand said. "I want a full investigation."DioGuardi said the health care law should be repealed and restructured to rein in spending. "Health care reform did not reduce the cost of health care." he said.
Source: WNYC News coverage of 2010 N. Y. Senate debate
Oct 15, 2010
Kirsten Gillibrand:
Opposes NYC large sugary drink ban
There was some common ground.
Both oppose the idea of a federal ban on the sale of large sugary drinks similar to the one enacted by Mayor Bloomberg in the city.
Source: New York Daily News on 2012 N. Y. Senate debate
Oct 17, 2012
Lee Zeldin:
ObamaCare converts full-time jobs to part-time
Repealing and Replacing ObamaCare: Our small businesses are turning thousands and thousands
of full-time jobs into part-time jobs to avoid having to offer healthcare coverage they simply can't afford.
Source: 2014 N. Y. House campaign website, ZeldinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Rob Astorino:
ObamaCare meltdown changes the political landscape
Campaign sources said the changing national and New York political landscape--brought about by the ObamaCare fiasco and the election of confirmed leftist Bill de Blasio--had convinced Astorino that there's a strong chance he could defeat Cuomo next year.
"Cuomo backed ObamaCare to the nines, and by his own admission, he's a good buddy of de Blasio, whose class-warfare rhetoric and high-tax policies directly contradict what Cuomo claims he wants for
New York,'' said a source with direct knowledge of Astorino's thinking. "The ObamaCare meltdown and the political problems
de Blasio is going to cause Cuomo change the dynamic in New York to the benefit of a moderate Republican like Rob."
Source: New York Post on 2014 N. Y. gubernatorial race, "Powwow"
Nov 18, 2013
Susan Rice:
Coronavirus: Crisis should explode myth of "America First"
We have little idea of how bad the pandemic is. Xenophobia and arrogance seem to have put our citizens at greater risk. Rather than request the German-made test kits offered by the World Health Organization, the Trump administration insisted on using
only U.S.-made kits. The C.D.C then bungled the manufacture and distribution of its kits and only belatedly enlisted outside laboratories. The lack of testing remains the greatest failure of the administration's response.
The United States can't defeat any pandemic alone. Even for the most nationalistic, this crisis should explode the myth of "America First." So long as the virus is prevalent anywhere, it is a threat everywhere. That is why we must cooperate with
partners globally and invest in helping other countries to contain this and future pandemics. Viruses are equal-opportunity killers. They don't care whether you live in countries President Trump denigrates or the richest nations on earth.
Source: N. Y. Times 2020 analysis of coronavirus policy
Mar 13, 2020
Wendy Long:
Opposes NYC large sugary drink ban
There was some common ground.
Both oppose the idea of a federal ban on the sale of large sugary drinks similar to the one enacted by Mayor Bloomberg in the city.
Source: New York Daily News on 2012 N. Y. Senate debate
Oct 17, 2012
Josh Eisen:
Medicare-for-all is unrealistic and un-American
People should have choice in healthcare. At the same time, healthcare is a human right and the government must ensure that all American can access healthcare.
Medicare-for-all is unrealistic and un-American. We must incentivize healthy living because healthy citizens give more and take less from the government.
Source: 2024 N. Y. Senate campaign website EisenForCongress.com
Mar 4, 2024
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026