New Yorkers Deliver Congressman Lawler the ‘Bill’ for Skyrocketing Premiums Ahead of Thursday’s Health Care Vote

Hudson Valley Families are Paying the Price for Rep. Lawler’s Inaction—It’s His Responsibility to Clean Up the Mess He Made

MAHOPAC & PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK — Today, two groups of Hudson Valley residents visited Congressman Mike Lawler’s district offices in Mahopac and Pearl River to deliver a symbolic ‘bill’, totaling up the increased health care costs that his constituents will now pay thanks to the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits. Because Rep. Lawler dragged his feet and refused to support a three-year extension until the very last minute, the credits expired, and thousands of Hudson Valley families are now paying hundreds of dollars more each month for their insurance premiums.

The loss of the tax credits is expected to cost some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers in the 17th Congressional District more than $4.5 million in higher premiums each year. While the House will vote tomorrow on bringing back the tax credits, Rep. Lawler’s constituents insist that his obligation is not done until the measure is passed into law. New Yorkers are already feeling the pain of higher costs due to Rep. Lawler’s inaction, and it’s his responsibility to clean up the mess that he made.

Residents delivered a symbolic ‘bill’ to Congressman Lawler’s offices, totaling up the increased health care costs that his constituents will now pay, thanks to the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits. | CREDIT: Empire State Voices

“Because Congressman Lawler allowed the tax credits to expire, families in his district who were already struggling to afford their insurance premiums are now paying the price and being charged hundreds of dollars more each month,” said Eve, a retired healthcare worker from Yorktown Heights. “That means families tightening already-strained budgets, rationing care, or even being forced to drop their coverage altogether. This pain was entirely preventable, but Congressman Lawler sat back and refused to act until it was too late. He doesn’t get to vote for the renewal tomorrow and wash his hands of this. He needs to get it over the finish line and passed into law.”

“You know what no one has ever said? ‘Health care is just too affordable,’” said Tracey, a disabled cancer survivor and former tax credit recipient from Pearl River. “Well, Mike Lawler must think that it is, because he sat on his hands and refused to take action to prevent our insurance premiums from going through the roof. For weeks, we called on him to sign the discharge petition on a three-year extension, and where was he? On cable news, trying to score political points like this was some sort of game. Now, he wants to take credit for getting on board once it was already too late? No, he made this mess, and now it’s his responsibility to clean it up. Once again, Rep. Lawler has failed, and his constituents got stuck with the bill.”

“[Congressman Lawler] made this mess, and now it’s his responsibility to clean it up. Once again, Rep. Lawler has failed, and his constituents got stuck with the bill.” -Tracey, Pearl River | CREDIT: Empire State Voices

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About Empire State Voices 

Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.