Community
Update
from AssemblywomanUpdate
Ellen Jaffee
Summer 2009
Dear Neighbor,
This past legislative session presented its fair share of challenges, to say the least. Despite inevitable cuts resulting from the biggest budget gap in our state’s history, we were able to protect many vital programs and pass legislation that will benefit all New Yorkers.
Given the obstacles these times have brought, we were able to assist New Yorkers by extending unemployment benefits, providing school districts adequate state aid in order to keep property taxes stable, holding health care costs down for consumers by funding vital programs, and ensuring that seniors have access to affordable prescription drugs and home health care.
The New York State Assembly completed the 2009 session on June 23rd after passing 1,252 bills since convening in January. Like all New Yorkers, I am relieved that the State Senate has resolved its differences. I look forward to moving ahead and the Senate acting on the many important pieces of legislation that were passed in the Assembly.
Recently, the Governor signed into law legislation that I co-sponsored that raises the allowable age of children on their parents’ health insurance policies. Previously, parents can only insure children up to 23 years of age or to 25 if they are still students. This new legislation will allow parents to include their unmarried children through the age of 29, even if they are not living at home. While families will be required to pay the premium, the reduced, group rate will save families thousands of dollars per year while providing adult children with adequate healthcare coverage. Previously uninsured adult children will be able to join their parents’ plans as well.
The Assembly also passed the bipartisan ethics reform legislation that shines even greater light on state government by increasing financial disclosure and creating several independent entities to oversee ethics and lobbying in New York. I’m hopeful that these reforms will be passed, so we can begin to rebuild trust in state government.
From all reports, I expect to be called back to Albany to further address the enormous budget shortfalls facing our state. I will keep you posted with these developments. In the meantime, I will be traveling around the 95th Assembly District to meet with constituents and to hear what’s on your mind. Please check out the meeting schedule below. I hope to see you at an upcoming Neighborhood Assembly, community meeting, or at one of the many public events in our district.
As always, feel free to contact my office at 845-624-4601 if you have any concerns or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Ellen Jaffee
The 2009 - 2010 state budget presented enormous challenges and tough choices. General fund state spending did not go up; in fact it decreased by $6.2 billion. Federal stimulus money enabled us to close the biggest budget gap in state history and to prevent devastating cuts. These federal funds allowed us to hold aid for public schools at 2008 levels, which in turn kept school taxes stable. In addition, this funding also allowed us to offset proposed cuts to healthcare and state universities. We tried to ensure that the most essential programs remained intact; however, cuts to many organizations couldn’t be avoided.
The budget imposes no new taxes on low- and middle-income families. On the contrary, the Legislature rejected $2.1 billion in nuisance taxes on ordinary expenses such as gym memberships, haircuts, and other items that would have pinched working families. Instead this was replaced with a slightly higher income tax on the wealthiest three percent of New Yorkers. Previously everyone earning over poverty-line income paid the same percentage on their earnings. This year’s adjustment means that a family earning $40,000 a year will no longer pay the same income tax rate as a family earning $4 million a year. Finally, the STAR exemption was left in place. Please see below for details.
With the budget gap still increasing, I expect to return to Albany to again vote on mid-year spending cuts. While more tough choices must be made, I will be working to ensure that Rockland get its fair share of state funds.
In January, Assemblywoman Jaffee stood with Senator Thomas Morahan, Assemblymembers Ken Zebrowski, Nancy Calhoun, and Annie Rabbitt, Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner, and Rockland Business Association President Al Samuels at a press conference she convened to announce her opposition to the MTA Payroll Tax.
When it came to a vote in the Assembly, Ellen Jaffee voted against the Payroll Tax and MTA Bailout. “While it’s important to fund public transportation, the negative impact on Rockland’s businesses, not-for-profits, schools, communities, and, ultimately, taxpayers is completely unacceptable considering what we get in return from the MTA.”
Recently, Assemblywoman Jaffee worked with Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Gladys Carrión to secure $15,000 to cover a funding shortfall for The Children’s Center, a YMCA service that provides drop-in child care for low-income families who must appear in family court. The program helps parents protect children from being in a courtroom and provides quality child-care in a safe environment. Commissioner Carrión also made a commitment to re-evaluate the amount of funding the program receives in the future.
The New York State’s School Tax Relief (STAR) Exemption was included in the 2009-2010 Budget, so if you have received the Basic or Enhanced STAR Exemption, you will continue to see those savings on your property tax bill.
New Yorkers who have received either the Middle Class or Enhanced STAR Rebate Checks for the past two years will not be receiving them this year. My colleagues and I expect that as the economy rebounds, and the state stands on better financial footing, we will be able to reinstate the Rebate Program. In fact, some reinstatement proposals already exist. I will keep you apprised on any new developments.
If you own and live in your house or are an income-eligible senior who owns and lives in your house and have not applied for the STAR exemption, contact your local assessor’s office or call 1-888-NYSTAR-5 for more information.
Assemblywoman Jaffee welcomed the Suffern Girl Scouts to Albany during the legislative session. During their visit, the Troop toured the Capitol and was introduced on the floor of the Assembly.
If you or your organization is interested in visiting Albany during the 2010 session, please contact Ellen Jaffee’s office at 518-455-5118 to make arrangements.
In the picture at right, Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner shows the direction of the proposed median for Erie Street in Blauvelt to Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, New York State Department of Transportation Region 8 Director Joan Dupont, and Supervisor Kleiner’s Executive Assistant, Suzanne Barclay. Director Dupont announced that the Erie Street Intersection and Median Project is scheduled to begin the design phase in mid-2009. These long-awaited improvements will modernize the intersection allowing traffic to move more smoothly, improve safety, and provide easy access to local businesses.
Ms. Dupont was in Rockland County at Assemblywoman Jaffee’s invitation for a tour of and discussion about current and future DOT projects, including the upcoming re-paving of Route 9W. Assemblywoman Jaffee said, “I’m pleased with the progress of the project and with Ms. Dupont’s responsiveness to the needs of Rockland County.”
Assemblywoman Jaffee’s legislation protecting New Yorkers from the sale of dangerous extension cords, which have resulted in fires at homes and businesses, passed the Assembly during this legislative session.
Underwriters Laboratory (UL) is an independent product safety organization that evaluates products and certifies their safety. If a product has been deemed safe by UL, it will bear a UL label. Recently, products have been imported into the United States with counterfeit UL labels. These counterfeit cords are fire hazards, which threaten the lives of those who use them and first responders.
Assemblywoman Jaffee’s bill would require merchants stocking electrical products with fraudulent labeling to participate in required training to distinguish real from counterfeit labeling. A second offense would result in stiff fines.
Senior citizens over the age of 60 can take credit courses tuition-free through SUNY Rockland’s Senior Adult Audit program on a space available basis. Seniors are responsible for program fees and are required to meet pre-requisites. Here’s how:
Pick up a Schedule of Classes in the Technology Center on campus, OR, if you enjoy surfing the web, go to www.sunyrockland.edu and use WebAdvisor to check on course availability. Registration forms are in the Schedule of Classes or can be downloaded from the Registrar’s homepage.
Submit requested courses on Registration Form (indicate Senior Adult Audit), by mail to the Records Office, by fax to (845) 574-4499, or in person at the Records Office in the Technology Center.
The Records Office will mail course confirmation to seniors who are successfully enrolled in classes.
In June, Assemblywoman Jaffee was appointed Chairperson to the New York State Assembly Legislative Task Force on Women’s Issues.
In this position, she will delve into issues regarding women in business; women’s role in the New York State economy; pay equity; access to appropriate medical treatment for victims of sexual abuse; prevention of pediatric sexual assault; concerns facing women veterans; and child care.
At the announcement, Assemblywoman Jaffee said, “Women’s issues are community issues. During economic recessions, women suffer the most as they already make less than their male counterparts. Child care, healthcare, and pay equity affect the entire community, now more than ever. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on the task force and in the Assembly, as well as community leaders, to address these issues and improve the lives of women and children in New York.”
Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “Assemblywoman Jaffee has long fought for the children and families of New York State. She has spearheaded legislation that would eliminate red tape for law enforcement in accessing updated criminal records of sex offenders, establishing an age-appropriate sexual education grant program and streamline the payment process for HIV testing and therapy for victims of sexual assault. I congratulate her on this appointment, and look forward to working with her as she leads the Legislative Task Force on Women’s Issues.”
At left, Assemblywoman Jaffee speaks with students about the political process at Naomi’s Program of Excellence, an organization that provides cultural and academic enrichment programs and activities for children living in the Rockland Community.
The current fiscal crisis has put many New Yorkers in debt. People who never struggled to pay their bills are now being forced to consider defaulting on their debt. This year, the Assembly passed a package of bills, supported by Assemblywoman Jaffee, that would protect consumers from improper debt collection practices and implement penalties for those who violate the law.
The legislation would, among other important measures, make New York’s debt collection laws conform to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and set standards for how collection firms could recover debts, restrict calls to consumers to between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., and forbid the use of intimidation or threats.
In this precarious economic climate, reports about deceptive debt settlement companies abound, so it’s important to know your rights and protect yourself from unscrupulous debt collectors.
For information on your rights and answers to common questions about debt collection, visit the New York State Consumer Protection Board’s Debt Collection Information Center online at http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/debt_collection.htm or call the New York State Consumer Protection Board Helpline at 1-800-697-1220.
Trace amounts of prescription drugs can be found in our waterways and water supply from improper disposal of unused medication. We can stop this with proper disposal.
How to properly dispose of medication:
Do not flush unused medications and do not pour them down a sink or drain.
Be proactive and dispose of unused medication in household trash. When discarding unused medications, protect children and pets from harm by:
Pouring medication into a sealable bag. If the medication is a solid (pill, liquid capsule, etc.), crush it and add water to dissolve it.
Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds, or any other material to the plastic bag that will mix with the medication and make it less appealing for pets and children to eat.
Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash.
Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information, like the prescription label, from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them away.
Consult your pharmacist with any questions.
Assemblywoman Jaffee arranged for a representative from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office to meet with the Nyack and Piermont Senior groups to discuss the Attorney General’s Health Care Helpline – a free service that can help individuals of any age claim benefits when an HMO denies coverage, assist with health care billing and payment problems, obtain guaranteed health benefits, and investigate when insurance coverage is lost.
The Health Care Helpline can be reached at 1-800-428-9071 or 518-474-8376. Rockland residents can call the Attorney General’s regional office at 914-422-8755 or Assemblywoman Jaffee’s office at 845-624-4601 for more information or assistance.
Pictured at right, Assemblywoman Jaffee speaks to the Piermont Seniors.
This year’s budget preserves more than $50 million in “wrap-around” coverage, which pays for EPIC enrollees’ prescription drugs when the drugs aren’t covered by a Medicare Part D plan.
Not only does the coverage help keep seniors healthy by providing access to needed medications, it saves taxpayers millions of dollars a year by decreasing emergency room visits and nursing home admissions.
Please let me know your concerns so that my office can respond. Is there any topic you would like to see addressed? Would you like further information about the plans for the TZB and Thruway corridor project?
Please print this form and mail it to Assemblywoman Jaffee at One Blue Hill Plaza, PO Box 1549, Pearl River, NY 10965, E-mail jaffeee@assembly.state.ny.us with “Comment” in the subject line, or fax it to 845-624-2911.
Name __________________________________________________