Kemnitz: 18,131 votes  – 45.1%

Assemblywoman Rabbitt won every town in the 97th Assembly District except for the Town of Monroe.  Myrna Kemnitz won every Kiryas Joel Election District (taking 98% of the vote).  Assemblywoman Rabbitt won every other Town of Monroe Election District, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the “block vote” from Village of Kiryas Joel residents.

It should be noted that Myrna Kemnitz received almost 33% of her total votes from Village of Kiryas Joel voters.

Congratulations Annie!

United Transportation Union Director Samuel Nasca urged all his members and voters in the 97th Assembly District to support Assemblywoman Rabbitt. Todd Diorio, President of Laborers Local 17 and the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council stated that he was looking forward to continue to work with Assemblywoman Rabbitt on issues important to the 10,000 members of the organization. Uniformed Fire Officers Association President Alexander Hagan encouraged all 2,500 active and retired members of his group to support Assemblywoman Rabbitt.

“I am deeply grateful for all the endorsements and support,” said Assemblywoman Rabbitt.

Director Shaun Flynn of the New York State Nurses Association said, “We believe you will provide important leadership in improving the health care of New York State citizens.” The organization represents over 36,000 registered professional nurse members through New York State.

New York State Public Employees Federation President Kenneth Fox said, “We know that you appreciate and value the work performed by public employees in your district and around the state.” The organization represents 59,000 public employee professionals.

New York State United Teachers President Richard Iannuzzi said, “Your advocacy and voting record have earned you our endorsement and I extend my congratulations.” The union represents over 600,000 teachers and educational professionals across New York.

New York State Association of PBA’s President Thomas Willdigg said, “Our endorsement is based upon your well known, documented positions taken in support of law enforcement…and the confidence we have in you to be an effective representative.”  The organization represents more than 45 member units with over 40,000 police officers in New York.

New York State Fraternal Order of Police President Charles Caputo said, “We have based our endorsement upon your demonstrated and continued support of police professionals.”  The organization has over 20,000 members statewide.

Please let this statement serve as my notice to the Uniformed Fire Officers Association that I have pulled my support for Assembly Bill 9157, the “People’s Convention to Reform New York.” I completely understand the concerns of my firefighter constituents that a constitutional convention could leave constitutionally protected pensions vulnerable to damaging changes, especially in today’s anti-pension climate.

I recognize the difficult and dangerous work that our state’s “Finest” and “Bravest” perform in keeping New Yorkers safe from harm. These brave men and women have my utmost respect and support and I firmly agree that their pensions should not be put in jeopardy. Although I still believe that serious changes must be made to clean up state government, there are other avenues we must pursue that do not involve a constitutional convention.

            Just because the “three men in a room” are doing nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, about the late state budget, this does not mean that every legislator has followed their lead.  In fact, while up in Albany, at my home, and between meetings, I have been very busy personally answering questions from constituents, and I would like to share some of these conversations with the public as a whole.

            Technology is great and thanks to new social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and “smart phones,” I can continue to engage residents on a regular basis.  Recently, there have been two big, important topics we have discussed: income tax returns and the 2010 United States Census.

            Because of the governor’s decision to hold some state income tax returns, everyone has understandable concerns and has asked, “When will my state tax return arrive?”  I rolled up my sleeves, did some research, and I’m happy to report that you can easily get a status update on your refund by calling the state at 1-800-225-5829 or by going to the state Department of Taxation and Finance’s Web site at www.nystax.gov.  You will need to have on hand your social security number, the type of form you filed, and the amount of the refund.

            Another question pertains to the census.  For those of us who already have received a census form, we know that the many reminder postcards we have received from the federal government borders on waste.  The form is simple to fill out and return.  But some constituents have not received a form.  I did some investigating and learned that residents with a P.O. Box address will not receive a census form.  This is of great concern to me because some of our communities are more rural than others and it is vital that all of our residents are counted.  If you have not filed your census form, please do so as your answers will determine federal policy and funding for our state over the next decade.  If you have not received a form, please call or e-mail my office at rabbitta@assembly.state.ny.us, or call (845) 291-3631 and we will make sure you get one.

            I invite all residents to friend request me on Facebook or follow my “tweets” on Twitter so that they can openly and honestly engage with me, share their concerns, and hear up-to-the-minute news from wherever I am at the moment – in Albany or throughout the district.  I can’t wait to help answer more of your questions!

            For the second week in a row, the Legislature is leaving town without taking any action to meet their obligation in passing an already late state budget.  At the same time, jobs are being lost.  Workers are being laid off right now because there is no budget.  Albany leaders need to stop ignoring the urgency of passing a budget now.

            While we have continued to urge Albany’s “three men in a room” to take substantive action toward a responsible and timely 2010-11 State Budget, I also have been fielding many calls from constituents regarding the impact the enactment of the federal health care bill will have on our own state.

            Although we have heard a lot of arguments about the merits for and against the federal health care bill, it is important to consider how this bill will affect our state and individual health care coverage.

            Nationally, the bill will provide health insurance coverage for up to 32 million people at an estimated cost of $938 billion over the next decade.  This balance will be paid for through $400 billion in tax increases throughout the next ten years, including adding an additional surtax of 3.8 percent on investment income for taxpayers earning $200,000 or more ($250,000 for married filers); a 40 percent excise tax on health coverage in excess of $10,200 for single filers and $27,500 for married couples; increasing the tax on health savings account distributions to 20 percent; and imposing an annual fee on manufacturers and importers of brand-name drugs and health insurance providers, among many other proposals.

            These last two annual fees, which will inevitably be passed on to consumers, compounded with the provision that will close the deductible in Medicare Part D, could cost residents using brand-name prescription drugs an increase of thousands of dollars toward their health care costs annually. 

            In regards to Medicaid, while the plan makes 16 million people eligible as new enrollees, it also would help our state afford the cost of these new enrollees by providing roughly $1 billion in assistance annually, phased-in, starting in 2014.  The new law also expands Medicaid coverage to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), currently at $19,378 for a family of two.

            For those with private health insurance policies, parents would be able to keep children on the family plan up to age 26.  Furthermore, the federal law allows New York state to create and administer a new insurance program to serve those above 133 percent of the FPL yet below 400 percent.  This new program would create premium subsidies for health insurance consumer groups traditionally lacking health insurance coverage, such as individuals, self-employed, and small businesses, and federal funding would be available for the state.

            This part of the program is slated to begin in 2014, just as fines go into effect for not having health insurance.  In fact, starting in 2014, individuals could be fined $95 or one percent of their household income, whichever is greater, if they do not have health insurance.  In 2016, this annual fine will increase to $695 or 2.5 percent of the household income, whichever is greater. 

            Employers also will be subject to the fines.  Small employers with less than 50 employees will face $2,000 fines per employee per year if any employee receives federal subsidies to purchase insurance.  However, small businesses also will be offered tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to create insurance plans for their employees.

            Perhaps the most historic part of the new law, and area where there can be the least amount of debate, is the provision which mandates all children will be covered with health insurance, despite pre-existing conditions.  Retroactive cancellations of policies will be illegal and there will be no lifetime limits on coverage.

            For better or for worse, this new health care plan is now federal law.  Clearly, as we continue negotiating a state budget, there are fiscal concerns about the plan that must be further investigated.  My constituents seem bound between realistic concerns for paying these increased taxes and the undeniable dream that every person has affordable health care.  I would like to continue hearing your thoughts about this plan and encourage residents to e-mail me personally at rabbitta@assembly.state.ny.us, call my Goshen office at (845) 291-3631, or to share their thoughts with me on Facebook!