COAL AND CAROLING: Frustrated Long Islanders Demand Better From Their Representatives at Holiday-Themed Rallies
Over the Past Year, Long Island Reps. Garbarino and LaLota Have Given Tax Breaks to the Rich While Cutting Programs for Working People
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK — Yesterday, a group of frustrated Long Islanders gathered outside the offices of Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota to deliver packages of coal and engage in some festive caroling in response to their ‘naughty’ voting records over the past year. Between voting for massive funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in order to extend tax breaks for the richest Americans, and refusing to support a three-year extension of expiring health care tax credits that thousands of their constituents rely on to afford their health insurance, the two Long Island congressmen have repeatedly made the ongoing affordability crisis worse for working families in their district.
“The holiday season is all about giving, but this year, Reps. Garbarino and LaLota have done nothing but take, take, take,” said Carl, a resident of Melville. “We’re out here today to spread the holiday cheer in the hopes of reminding our congressmen who it is they’re actually supposed to represent—the hardworking families of Long Island. Maybe this delivery of coal will finally bring them to their senses and encourage them to start fighting to lower our costs. They can start today by supporting a three-year extension of the expiring health care tax credits!”
A group of frustrated Long Islanders gathered outside the offices of Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota to deliver packages of coal and engage in some festive caroling. | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
Monday was the last day Long Islanders could enroll in a marketplace insurance plan for coverage beginning on January 1st, and many households found themselves locked into plans with skyrocketing premiums, some paying more than triple what they had previously for the same coverage. While a House discharge petition has just reached the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on a three-year extension of the tax credits, neither congressman has been willing to support the measure.
“Over the past year, Reps. Garbarino and LaLota have repeatedly abandoned the needs of working Long Islanders, cutting the very support systems that thousands of their constituents rely on,” said Zachary Tirgan, Regional Organizing Director for Empire State Voices. “We’re hoping that with today’s delivery of coal and caroling, these representatives will wake up and remember who it is they’re supposed to be fighting for. Their job isn’t to give tax breaks to a handful of billionaire donors; it is to work to lower the cost of living for the thousands of families struggling to make ends meet here in their districts.”
“We’re out here today to spread the holiday cheer in the hopes of reminding our congressmen who it is they’re actually supposed to represent—the hardworking families of Long Island.” -Carl, Melville | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
To learn more about Empire State Voices, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
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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.
