Three anti-poverty bills still await Cuomo’s signature

Throughout his tenure in Albany, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has fought consistently for working families. He has supported and signed legislation to increase access to affordable health care, help family-owned small businesses and create a more equitable justice system for all residents of New York state. The governor has led state legislators in our efforts to help lift millions of New York families out of poverty.

Still, we have more work to do. Our bipartisan coalition, Leaders Eradicating All Poverty (LEAP), works hard to pass effective legislation that helps to alleviate and solve a wide range of economic challenges that affect our state’s most vulnerable citizens. As elected representatives, it is our responsibility to do everything in our power to help families in need and restore the strength of the middle class – the bedrock of our state’s economy.

Three anti-poverty bills – improving Medicaid reimbursements, increasing access to healthy produce and reimbursing public defense costs – have unanimously passed both houses of the state legislature. All that stands in the way of their passage is the governor’s signature.

The first bill establishes a hospital supplemental Medicaid reimbursement rate adjustment for enhanced safety net hospitals. This bill (A.9476-A/S.6948-A), sponsored by state Sen. Kemp Hannon and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, will work to lend financial assistance to hospitals that have experienced financial strain in the process of serving low-income urban and rural communities.

The second bill incentivizes New York state farmers to donate to a food bank or other emergency food program by offering them a tax credit. This bill (A.10584/S.7833), sponsored by state Sen. Rich Funke and Assemblyman Francisco Moya, will work to assist impoverished, food-insecure individuals by increasing their access to fresh, healthy produce. Not only will this legislation help farmers and individuals in need, but it will also protect the environment by decreasing food waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.

The final bill will make our judicial process fairer for all people by requiring the state to reimburse counties for the full cost of public defense services by 2022. This bill (A.10706/S.8114), sponsored by state Sen. John DeFrancisco and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, will enforce reasonable caseload standards and require counsel to be present for arraignment, bail and plea hearings. Representation in the criminal justice system is a constitutional guarantee that New York has failed to safeguard. State funding will drive uniformity across the system, while enhancing the quality and integrity of services.

Gov. Cuomo’s track record proves his bona fides as a progressive leader and shows that he understands the many faces and causes of poverty. However, all three of these bills passed the Legislature in June and have sat on his desk since then. Four months is too long to keep hard-working New Yorkers waiting on cheaper health care, more accessible produce and a fairer legal system. At this critical moment, the governor cannot rest on his laurels. He must prioritize these bills and sign them into law immediately.

Walter Mosley is a state Assemblyman representing parts of Brooklyn. Harry Bronson is a state Assemblyman representing Rochester. Richard Funke is a state Senator representing parts of Ontario and Monroe counties.