John J. Faso: “And my colleagues, I rise this evening with my colleagues from upstate New York to discuss a matter that is…”

“And my colleagues, I rise this evening with my colleagues from upstate New York to discuss a matter that is extraordinarily important to all of the people throughout New York State, but particularly to those who reside in New York State outside of New York City. New York State is one of the few States in America that requires a portion of its share of Medicaid costs, which is healthcare for the poor and the elderly, its share of Medicaid costs to be paid by local property taxpayers. It has now been 51 years that New York State, since the days of Governor Nelson Rockefeller, that New York State imposed this incredibly onerous burden on the local property taxpayers in our State. In fact, in the entire United States of America, there is approximately $9.5 billion being spent by local governments on Medicaid costs which, in virtually every other State, are paid for by the State government--$9.5 billion. But in New York State, our taxpayers pay $7.2 billion of that $9.5 billion in Medicaid costs mandated by New York State, mandated by Albany. This is an outrageous burden. The county property taxpayers--those are homeowners and commercial property taxpayers in our State--pay over $2.2 billion each year in property taxes, in mandated costs, over which the county governments have no control whatsoever. So tonight, Mr.…”