1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East and the Greater New York Hospital Association have launched a ferocious ad campaign against Governor Paterson's proposed cut. The Times had the story yesterday:
At a time when Gov. David A. Paterson can ill afford more negative attention, the state's most powerful health care interests are mounting a multimillion-dollar media campaign that excoriates the governor and his plans to cut funding for hospitals and other health care facilities.
In television commercials that will begin broadcasting statewide on Monday, nurses and patients take a personal swipe at the governor, imploring, "Why are you doing this?" At one point, a nurse says, "I can't believe Governor Paterson is the one making this proposal." Then a man, blind and in a wheelchair, asks the governor, who is legally blind, "Why are you doing this to me?"
I haven't yet seen one of the ads, but they do look to be rather brutal. The Governor's folks are not taking this lying down, however. They have scheduled a 2pm news conference to address and rebut the ads.
The Director of State Operations Dennis Whalen, Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services Joe Baker and State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines will be appearing to make the Governor's case and you can watch it live online at this link.
This could be quite interesting. I'll be watching. |
