“As New York’s first mom governor, I know personally that the earliest years are the most expensive. Diapers. Formula. Clothes they outgrow every three months.”
-Gov. Kathy Hochul
We open our show today highlighting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address and her changes to the budget, which she says will make a serious difference to families with children in New York.
These changes will add up to $5,000 back into the bank accounts of New York families and is a significant step toward New York’s goal of cutting poverty in half by 2031.
Want to watch the full address? Click here.
We provide an excerpt of the keynote conversation from the December 2024 symposium on child health and development and poverty, hosted by The Schuyler Center in collaboration with the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University.
Watch the full keynote conversation here.
Dr. McDonald reiterates to everyone that the mission of the New York State Health Department is to protect and promote the health and well-being for all, built on a foundation of equity. This mission is not changed by a federal transition.
“There’s a lot to be said for staying informed but being grounded to reality and looking at what really can change and what is just narrative.”
-Dr. James McDonald, New York State Health Commissioner
He discusses Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are significant in New York, and that these plans can’t be changed without hurting people. It’s also critical to remember many items are not directly impacted by federal transitions due to how they’re administered and plans already in place.
Dr. McDonald hopes that listeners and voters remember some of the lessons we learned during the pandemic and urge their local elected officials to continue and revamp those programs because direct aid really does help.
What is the 1115 waiver?
“The 1115 Demonstration Waiver, also known as the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Waiver in New York State, is an agreement between the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and New York State that allows the State to use a managed care delivery system to deliver benefits to Medicaid recipients, create efficiencies in the Medicaid program, and enable the extension of coverage to certain individuals who would otherwise be without health insurance.” Source: New York State Official Website
$60 billion is what is costs us as a community and as a state for not addressing child poverty.
-Kate Breslin
Friend of the show and child poverty reduction guru Kate Breslin joins us again to discuss what the Child Poverty Reduction Act is and how to meet the goal.
What?
How?
These policies are choices made by elected officials, and it’s up to voters to continue to urge their elected officials to make choices that will alleviate poverty in your area.
Coming soon.
Governor of New York
She began her career in public service on her local Town Board, before serving as Erie County Clerk and as a Member of Congress for New York’s 26th Congressional District.
As Lieutenant Governor, she chaired the statewide Regional Economic Development Councils, and served as co-chair of the State’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force, Women’s Suffrage Commission, and Child Care Availability Task Force.
Since being sworn into office in 2021, Governor Hochul has led by establishing a bold vision for New York’s future. Governor Hochul has spearheaded comprehensive policies and initiatives to help New Yorkers and their families, while building an economy that is stronger and more inclusive than before. Governor Hochul is making historic investments in the people, places, and things to make that happen – from healthcare workers, small businesses, and working families to infrastructure, education, and workforce development. And in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s reckless decisions to strip away abortion rights and strike down commonsense gun regulations, Governor Hochul led the charge in Albany to protect reproductive health care and strengthen gun safety laws, ensuring New York continues to stand as a beacon of hope and freedom for the rest of the nation.
Governor Hochul was born and raised in Western New York. She and her husband, Bill Hochul, are the proud parents of two children and one granddaughter.
President & CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA)
KATE BRESLIN is the President & CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA). With Kate’s leadership, Schuyler Center is building upon its 150-year legacy as a strong, independent voice and coalition-builder. Schuyler Center holds government accountable and helps to shape public debate around policies that affect New Yorkers, with a particular focus on people and communities experiencing poverty and inequity. Kate has spent her career analyzing and advocating in support of thoughtful policy solutions that improve the lives of people in the U.S. and abroad.
With Kate at the helm, Schuyler Center led the initiative resulting in New York’s Child Poverty Reduction Act, signed into law in December 2021. Kate plays a leadership role in several statewide coalitions, including Medicaid Matters NY, and she is frequently invited to lead and participate in policy-focused initiatives and workgroups. Kate served as the Director of Policy for New York’s primary care association, CHCANYS, directing initiatives to improve health care access in underserved communities. While in California, she was Project Director for the California Budget Project, analyzing state budget and tax policies, and has also served in county government. Kate has led and worked in relief and development projects in several African nations, including serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone. Kate holds Masters Degrees in both Public Health and City and Regional Planning.
