Murphy Ducks Debate Despite Issuing Previous Health Care Challenge; Has Access to Quality NYS Health Coverage, Why Can’t His Constituents?
Speaking on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show this morning, Pete Harckham, Democratic candidate for NY State Senate District 40 called for “real health care reform in New York State”. His opponent, incumbent Republican State Senator Terrence Murphy, declined to appear on the program despite previously issuing a public statement challenging Harckham to debate health care.
Listen to Harckham’s WNYC appearance at: https://www.wnyc.org/story/30-issues-new-york-health-act
“Healthcare should be a basic right available to all New York residents, not a privilege accessible only to those fortunate enough to afford it,” said Harckham. “Senator Murphy has access to high-quality affordable health coverage through Albany’s New York State Health Insurance Program, so why can’t his constituents have the same”?
“While the Affordable Care Act is being hollowed out by Donald Trump and Republican legislators, resulting in deteriorating health insurance coverage and increased premiums, Senator Murphy and his colleagues in the Republican-controlled State Senate are blocking key legislation that could improve health care in New York State from even being discussed on the Senate floor,” Harckam added.
“Debating options for universal health care in New York is the right thing to do, especially since studies by the RAND Corporation and UMass Amherst have found that such a system could improve care and save the state money,” Harckham said. “In addition, it may be the most comprehensive way to address the Opioid/Heroin addiction crisis and the lack of parity for mental health treatment”.
New York State Senate District 40 includes parts of Northern Westchester (Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Salem, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, Sleepy Hollow, Somers, Yorktown) Putnam (Brewster, Carmel, Patterson, Southeast) and Dutchess (Beekman, Pawling).
District residents interested in Harckham’s New York State Senate campaign can visit www.PeteForNY.com, http://www.facebook.com/PeteforNY and @PeteforNY on Twitter and Instagram to learn more, volunteer, or contribute.
