Politics on the Hudson

Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, sent a letter today to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Gov. David Paterson, asking them to consider joining a potential lawsuit with other states over a deal in Washington to provide Nebraska financial breaks on its Medicaid costs.

Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have been critical of the health-care reform bill that they say would cost New York about $1 billion a year in new Medicaid expenses. He said other states received breaks, but New York got nothing—and already pays about $87 billion more to Washington than it receives.

Attorney generals in seven states—all Republicans—are considering suing over a deal cut to get Sen.  Ben Nelson’s vote on the health-care reform bill that protects Nebraska from any additional costs from expanding Medicaid.

“If such an action is pursued, New York should join with these states to protect the best interests of our taxpayers who stand to lose more than $1 billion from the proposed health care reform legislation,” Skelos wrote.

“An unfair federal Medicaid reimbursement level already shortchanges our state. And now, because of a questionable vote-buying deal, that burden could increase significantly. If it takes legal action by the states to prevent such clear discrimination then I urge both of you to support such a suit.”

Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, have been under pressure for not doing more to help New York in the health-care deal.

Schumer said yesterday he will “fight as hard as we can” to soften the blow on New York, but rejected criticism that he hasn’t done more.

The New York Post ripped Gillibrand for not doing anything to help New Yorkers with the higher costs in the bill.

Here’s Skelos’ letter:
AG Medicaid Letter 0001

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