Archive for June, 2012
Healthcare Professionals Explain ACA Implementation In NY
Jun 29th - 9:00 pm
With yesterday’s health care ruling, doctors and hospitals should have a much easier time wrapping their heads around how this bill will impact their daily lives. But, in many states, the implementation of this law is dragging… Here in New York, the Governor set up a health care exchange through executive order, but the details of that exchange are sparse – and that is causing some concern in the health care community.
To talk more about this is the Vice President of BlueShield of Northeastern New York – Brian O’Grady and Dr. Edward Yoon… Medical Director for BlueShield of Northeastern New York.
Donohue Looks Ahead Following Nat’l Election Loss
Jun 29th - 9:00 pm
Danny Donohue, president of New York’s largest public employee union, the Civil Service Employees Association, is coming off a tough election battle, running to be leader of the national union AFSCME . In the end, he came up short, but he’s kind enough to join Zack Fink in the studio to talk about the race and increased scrutiny on labor in recent years.
Extras
Jun 29th - 5:13 pm
A state Supreme Court in Manhattan will hold a hearing on Monday to look into the vote collection in NY-13, where Rep. Charles Rangel holds a narrow lead over Adriano Espaillat.
Economic optimism is growing in Buffalo and Rochester.
Two WNY power plants want to take advantage of the Article X law passed last year and convert to natural gas.
Environmental groups are upset that the Department of Environmental Conservation apparently showed a copy of their hydrofracking SGEIS with the natural gas drilling industry.
New York City lost it’s lawsuit to ban churches from using schools as a place of prayer.
The Supreme Court’s ruling struck down the Medicaid expansion portion of the Affordable Care Act, and many states say they won’t comply with it.
The ruling is already becoming a campaign issue in the new NY-21.
Rep. Bill Owens wants answers to why a fuel tanker with steering problems was allowed to enter the St. Lawrence seaway.
The Cuomo administration is giving away air conditioners to those who need them.
Standard & Poors downgraded Rockland County’s bond rating again.
Bernie Madoff’s brother plead guilty to his role in the multi-billion dollar ponzi scheme.
The four students whose harrassment of a bus monitor in Greece, NY made national news, have been suspended for a year.
Cuomo Does Some Housekeeping
Jun 29th - 3:43 pm
Governor Cuomo signed 23 bills into law today that were passed during the final days of session last week.
None of the bills strike the CapTon team as controversial or surprising. Though, since Liz is training for a triathalon, she’ll be happy to know that legislation allowing medical personal certified in other states to work at Triathalons can now work at events in New York State.
Complete list is after the jump.
Schneiderman Sues Former NARAL Prez Kelli Conlin
Jun 29th - 12:02 pm
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman just announced that his office is going to sue long time political ally and former president of NARAL-NY Kelli Conlin for “siphoning over $250,000 from charity for personal use.”
As we first reported on Capital Tonight, an internal audit by the charity found that Conlin made numerous questionable charges on NARAL credit cards between 2008 and 2010, including $5,709 worth of high-end clothing at Giorgio Armani and Barney’s and a $17,000 reimbursement on a Hamptons summer rental where Conlin stayed in the summer of 2009.
“Ms. Conlin betrayed the trust of NARAL’s supporters and donors by using charitable funds to finance her lavish lifestyle,” said the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau Chief Jason Lilien.
“Our office is committed to rooting out corruption in the charitable sector wherever it exists, and we will vigorously pursue those who rip off charities for their own personal gain. This abuse of power is inexcusable, and we will hold Ms. Conlin accountable for her misconduct.”
In the press release, the AG’s office also highlights other charges against Conlin that include “at least $26,000 for personal travel, $18,500 for personal hotel expenses, including spa treatments.”
Conlin has already paid $75,000 in restitution as part of a plea deal with Manhattan DA Cy Vance.
The Attorney General recused himself personally from the investigation into Conlin, who was a close political ally. Schneiderman’s late father also served on the organization’s board.
NARAL-NY’s endorsement of Schneiderman helped him win the 5 way primary for Attorney General in 2010. And on election night, Conlin was one of a handful of people on the stage with Schneiderman when he delivered his victory speech.
Here And Now
Jun 29th - 7:31 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in New York City with no public schedule.
GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is scheduled to raise campaign cash in Buffalo.
New York Democrats are ready to “welcome” Romney with tales of how Bain Capital bought Williamhouse envelope plant in the Town of Holland and shipped jobs out of state.
Now that the Affordable Care Act has been largely upheld by the US Supreme Court, individuals must be able to buy insurance coverage through the new state health care exchanges by Jan. 1, 2014.
Many states across the nation are scrambling to meet the deadline to prevent seeing the federal government step in to establish and operate those exchanges for them. New York is further along than most.
But some Republican governors – including recall survivor Scott Walker of Wisconsin – are balking, preferring to wait to see what the outcome of the presidential election will be.
Romney is pledging to “do on my first day as president” what the court “would not do on its last day in session” – repeal Obamacare.
Cuomo issued a statement saying he was “pleased” with the court’s ruling, and New York will continue to work to establish the health care exchange he created via executive order after the Senate GOP balked at passing legislation to do so.
New York has about 11 million residents who are insured, mainly through employer health plans, and 5 million low-income residents enrolled in Medicaid. Nearly 2.9 million New York residents, or about 15 percent, without insurance, according to the 2010 Census, although the state estimate is 2.7 million.
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, a newly-minted fan of SCOTUSblog and once among the most public defenders of health care reform, had expected the court to rule differently, and surmised swing voting Chief Justice John Roberts might be trying to change public perception of the court.
It was all about legacy preservation for the chief justice, said Albany Law School Prof. Vin Bonventre, adding: “I was pretty convinced that Roberts was going to do something so that his court wouldn’t look awful. Like a bunch of partisan hacks.”
Sen. McDonald Looks Back at Legislative Session
Jun 28th - 9:00 pm
This year, the legislature found themselves unable to come to an agreement on issues like creating a health insurance exchange or decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. But there were plenty of measures that did get passed. Senator Roy McDonald discusses which ones he thinks were most important.
Supreme Court ACA Ruling Reaction: NFIB’s Durant
Jun 28th - 8:55 pm
Small business owners are not happy with the outcome of the Affordable Care Act case. The Supreme Court upheld the law, which the National Federal of Independent Businesses says fails to do anything to bring down the cost of healthcare. Now, their members are worried about being able to afford insurance for employees. NY director Mike Durant explains.
Supreme Court ACA Ruling Reaction: American Cancer Society’s Horner
Jun 28th - 8:52 pm
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act means that insurance companies will have to provide coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. And the American Cancer Society is very happy about that. NY and NY Vice President Blair Horner explains what this means for patients.
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