Staten Islanders Rally Outside Rep. Malliotakis’ Office To Demand She Fight For Health Insurance Tax Credit Extension, Reopen Government

Staten Islanders to Rally Outside Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ Office to Demand that She Fight for an Extension of Health Insurance Tax Credits as Part of Any Deal to Reopen the Federal Government 

Editor’s note: We previously covered Senator Gillibrand’s discussion on what the federal government’s shutdown means for real people, along with how these premium credits need to be extended because New Yorkers, as well as others across the nation, will not be able to afford their healthcare. Rep. Malliotakis recently made a statement that the senate needs to pass the continuing resolution as it was passed in the House, and the Speaker of the House has refused to call a session.  This means that negotiations cannot happen.  

Is the chicken symbolic of anything or is it in the costumed protestor trend that’s been happening recently? 

Is there a statement your organization would like to add, or was there a release prepared for after? 

The chicken costume represents the stance of rank-and-file members of the current (Republican) House Majority (like Nicole Malliotakis) who are scared to stand up to Donald Trump and House leadership, to push instead for steps to meet the needs of their own constituents, like affordable health insurance.

We in the NY-11 for Health Care project did not put out a press release after the event.  As for an overall statement at this point in time,…

We call on Senators and House Reps. like Nicole Malliotakis to reach across the political aisle to reopen the federal government and resolve the sticking points in the FY 2025 budget appropriations process.  First and foremost among them is renewing current health insurance premium subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in order to prevent large premium spikes next year for people who buy their own coverage.  In addition, by renewing these subsidies, Congress will also preserve New York’s highly successful Essential Plan that provides low-cost health insurance to 1.7 million lower-income New Yorkers who don’t qualify for Medicaid and also can’t afford to buy private insurance.  This special program is entirely funded by ACA premium subsidies.  There is no more time to wait since open enrollment begins on Nov. 1.  Action is needed NOW!

Health Care and the Federal Government Shutdown Showdown – What Congress Must Do! 

Lead Organization: NY-11 for Health Care

Event Partners [list in formation]:

• Citizen Action of New York

• Health Care for America Now – New York State Network

• Healthcare Education Project

• Metro New York Health Care for All

• Rise and Resist, Health Care Action Group

• 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East

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Speakers: Invited elected officials, constituents with personal stories; community  leaders; health care workers

The federal government is shut down right now because Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and her congressional  colleagues refuse to extend Affordable Care Act premium subsidy tax credits that make it possible for  22 million people across the US to afford health insurance, including 2 million New Yorkers. 4 million  people nationally will likely be forced to drop their coverage and become uninsured because their  premiums will skyrocket. Malliotakis and her colleagues say “we can talk about it later”, yet open  enrollment starts on November 1st in just two weeks, so there’s literally no time to delay any more!

Banner Image: Protest at Rep. Malliotakis’ office. Image Credit – Citizen Action