In response to the narrow passage of AHCA (also known as Trumpcare) in the House of Representatives, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the state of New York, has taken on another intrepid battle against the rich, unjust and powerful. Schneiderman issued this statement on Thursday.
Statement By A.G. Schneiderman On House Passage Of The American Health Care Act
“The healthcare bill passed today by House Republicans is a threat to the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers. In addition to the devastating impact this bill would have on every New Yorker’s access to affordable healthcare, the legislation that passed the House today is unconstitutional in several critical respects—and I stand ready to challenge it in court.
First, House Republicans’ attempt to effectively deny women access to reproductive healthcare services is a cruel and unconstitutional attack on women’s rights - especially the most vulnerable.
Further, the Collins-Faso Amendment is a cynical ploy by House Republican leadership and President Trump that exceeds Congress’s authority by interfering with how New York has long elected to fund its Medicaid program.
This bill threatens to slash essential healthcare services for millions of New Yorkers who need them the most.
For these reasons, if this disastrous and unconstitutional healthcare bill is ultimately signed into law, I will challenge it in court.”
This is not Schneiderman’s first rodeo. He has a record of being relentlessly strong, tenacious and fearless in his pursuits.
As noted — Schneiderman is known widely for locking up corrupt politicians who ripped off taxpayers, for taking down major drug trafficking rings across New York State and for protecting hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers from consumer fraud.
The Attorney General secured $5 billion for New York families hit during the housing crisis while leading the national effort that secured more than $95 billion from the banks that helped cause the housing crash. In the area of jobs and labor, Schneiderman fights for the justice of all workers, defending their rights to fair and decent wages and returned over $22 million to more than 17,000 workers who were cheated out of pay by unscrupulous employers.
Since taking office, Schneiderman also led national and statewide efforts to protect the environment and fight climate change while securing a $10 million settlement with ExxonMobil to pay for cleanup costs related to oil spills across New York. To learn more about Eric Schneiderman, visit his website here.
Americans could certainly use more like him. Thank you, Eric Schneiderman, thank you to the rising “Judicial Resistance” against Trump, and thank you to the “People’s Resistance.” Together, we persist. Together, we win.