Faso (left) and Maloney (right). The discussion was moderated by Pattern For Progress
President and CEO Jonathan Drapkin
POUGHKEEPSIE – Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, a Democrat, and Congressman John Faso, a Republican, reached “Across the Aisle” as Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress held their annual discussion on federal issued on Friday.
The representatives spoke on a myriad of issues specific to the Hudson Valley, including infrastructure and pollution and engaged in a spirited discussion on the proposed new healthcare plan “Trump Care” and its possible benefits or detriments.
Faso highlighted an issue that has been talked about at the local level in past Pattern events; that being, high taxation in the state and its connection to health care.
“One of the single worst mistakes that Nelson Rockefeller ever made, as governor 51 years ago, was when the federal/state Medicaid program, not Medicare, Medicaid, health care for the poor and the elderly, when that program was adopted, New York continued its policy of forcing the county governments, and New York City, to share in the Medicaid cost,” said Faso. “Virtually no other state does it the way New York does it.”
In keeping with the tie to possible “Trump Care” reform, Faso said he has introduced an amendment to alleviate the burden on county governments.
“I, in two months in Congress, put an amendment in that bill which says, that in 2020, New York State may no longer impose this local burden on the county property taxpayers,” Faso said. “In Dutchess County, that’s about 45 percent, close to 50 percent, of every nickel the county collects in property tax levy.”
Maloney’s interpretation of this position was that Faso is aiming to sell a bad health care bill to his constituents by masking it with the promise of tax relief; however, he later took back his initial response and explained his position further.
“It’s a terrible bill, and it would be terrible for New York, and what I was trying to say to my colleague John Faso is that, it’s a terrible mistake to go after Medicaid, to go after Medicare, to go after Planned Parenthood just to give big tax cuts to the wealthy,” said Maloney. “The Republican bill does nothing to fix what’s wrong with the Affordable Care Act, I mean, that’s our job.”
Maloney added that although he believes the current health care system is working in New York, other states need reforms.
Also, Faso joked that in the realm of Washington, he is seen as a moderate because of his position to not interfere with Planned Parenthood.
Despite the two representatives’ disagreements on health care, they have admittedly been working together on issues including an airplane safety bill, cleaning the Hudson River and continuing to hold GE accountable for the PCB contamination, as well as looking to alleviate student debt and promoting infrastructure in their respective districts.
Maloney, who had a reputation for cooperating with Faso’s Republican predecessor, Chris Gibson, noted he wants “to focus on what we can do together. I think that’s one of the problems with Washington; people only focus on what they disagree about; but then, every once in a while, you have an issue like healthcare where I really think the Trump administration, and the Republicans in Washington, are going to really hurt New York and I’m hoping that my colleague John Faso will stand up for us and not go along with his political party.”
