A.G. Underwood And Comptroller DiNapoli Announce Guilty Plea Of Queens Pharmacy Owner For $1.5 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme

Owner of Value Pharmacy, Inc. Will Serve Jail Time and Pay $3 Million for Participating in a Kickback Scheme with a Former Nassau University Medical Center Cancer Care Center Employee and Defrauding Medicaid of $1.5 Million

   Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood and State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced that Arkady Goldin, 40, of Brooklyn, and Value Pharmacy, Inc. (“Value”) — a pharmacy formerly located in Corona, Queens before re-locating to its current location in Lynbrook, NY — entered felony guilty pleas in Supreme Court, Queens County admitting to defrauding the State’s Medicaid program out of $1.5 million. The case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Attorney General and State Comptroller’s Joint Task Force on Public Integrity.

“We have zero tolerance for those who defraud the state’s Medicaid program,” said Attorney General Underwood. “We will continue to aggressively pursue all individuals who steal from Medicaid to enrich themselves at the expense of those who need the program for their fundamental health care.”

“Arkady Goldin billed Medicaid millions for cancer medications he never dispensed,” State Comptroller DiNapoli said. “Thanks to our partnership with the Attorney General’s Office, Goldin has been convicted, his corrupt pharmacy closed, and he and his partners will pay the state back for the $3 million total in stolen Medicaid funds.” 

Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron accepted Goldin’s guilty plea to Health Care Fraud in the Second Degree, a class C felony, and to violating the Social Services Law prohibition on the payment of kickbacks related to the State’s Medicaid program, a class E felony. The pharmacy entered a guilty plea to Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony. Goldin will be sentenced to six months incarceration, five years’ probation, and, along with Value, will be required to pay $1.5 million as restitution for money stolen from Medicaid. The defendants will also pay an additional $1.5 million in financial penalties, including a $10,000 fine that must be paid by the corporation. Goldin will also be required to perform 200 hours of community service. 

Goldin and Value’s pleas will also resolve a separate civil asset forfeiture and False Claims Act law suit filed by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Civil Enforcement Division (“MFCU”) in New York State Supreme Court, Queens County.

In papers filed in court, the State alleged that Goldin, an owner of Value, which formerly was located in Corona, Queens, had a kickback arrangement with a former employee of Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) who earlier in the investigation pleaded guilty to unlawfully accepting kickbacks related to Medicaid services. In exchange for steering expensive cancer prescriptions from NUMC to Value, Goldin paid the hospital employee a monthly cash referral fee and provided him with other items of value, including tickets to sporting events, an iPad, and free meals. State law strictly prohibits all medical providers, including pharmacies, from paying or offering to pay kickbacks to another person in return for the referral of medical services ultimately paid for by Medicaid. 

Additionally, as part of the scheme, the investigation uncovered that Value did not purchase sufficient amounts of medication from licensed New York State drug wholesalers that would have been necessary if Value legitimately dispensed prescriptions for which Value billed Medicaid. As a result of the unlawful scheme, Medicaid ultimately paid Value over $1.5 million for unlawful claims for medications.

Since 2011, the Attorney General and Comptroller have worked together to fight corruption through their Joint Task Force on Public Integrity. They have brought charges against dozens of individuals implicated in public corruption schemes around the state – resulting in the return of millions in restitution to taxpayers through these convictions.

Comptroller DiNapoli’s investigation was led by the Office of the State Comptroller (“OSC”) Division of Investigations, working with the OSC Division of State Government Accountability. 

Democrat Amanda Septimo Kicks Off Her Campaign for State Assembly

   On Sunday, Democrat Amanda Septimo kicked off her campaign to represent the 84th Assembly District with a rally at the Patterson Houses in Mott Haven. The event was attended by over fifty excited supporters.

 

"I am proud to be a lifelong member of our community, and I will be a leader that my neighbors can rely on to fight for them in Albany. For too long, the status quo has remained unchanged and unchallenged. The South Bronx deserves new leadership in the Assembly. I will work to improve educational opportunities for our students, make our community safer, and find truly affordable solutions to the housing crisis," said Septimo.

 

Amanda's campaign platform focuses on delivering change in several key areas, including affordable housing, education, mass transit, the opioid epidemic, criminal justice reform, and community safety.

 

"Throughout my life, I have seen the power of this community, and I want to do everything I can to help it thrive. I have the experience and drive to make a real difference in Albany and deliver results for the South Bronx. The Bronx is strong, and I am ready to a powerful voice for our community in the Assembly," concluded Septimo.  

 

Born and raised in the South Bronx, Amanda Septimo has been involved in community activism since she was teenager as a member of A.C.T.I.O.N., The Point Community Development Corporation's teen activism platform. She has worked with the Legal Aid Society, with a specific focus on cases involving domestic violence and Spanish-speaking immigrants. She also worked as the District Director for Congressman José E. Serrano (D-15th Congressional District), making her one of the youngest-serving senior staffers in Congress. Most recently, Amanda worked to help working and middle-class families by fighting for stronger worker protections with the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators.

 

The 84th District includes Mott Haven, Port Morris, Melrose, The Hub, Longwood, Concourse, Highbridge, and Hunts Point. The Primary Election will be on Thursday, September 13th

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News From State Senator Gustavo Rivera

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS GOVERNOR CUOMO, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND CIVIC LEADERS TO SET PRIORITY AGENDA FOR THE NEW YORK STANDS WITH PUERTO RICO REBUILDING AND RECONSTRUCTING COMMITTEE

  State Senator Gustavo Rivera released the following statement after attending a meeting with representatives of Governor Cuomo's office, fellow elected officials, and civic leaders in which they discussed and continued the process of identifying key priorities for Governor Cuomo's New York Stands with Puerto Rico Rebuilding and Reconstructing Committee.

It has been almost nine months since Hurricane Maria hit the island, yet lack of federal action to provide adequate aide and Puerto Rico's pre-existing economic crisis, have claimed the lives of thousands of Puerto Ricans and stalled recovery efforts. The goal of this committee is it to help facilitate lasting and forward-thinking solutions that help Puerto Ricans rebuilding their lives and their island. 

"Puerto Ricans have not only seen their lives completely torn apart by a natural disaster, but also by the criminal inaction of our federal government. After attending the first official meeting of the New York Stands with Puerto Rico Rebuilding and Reconstructing Committee, I am encouraged by the thoughtful discussion we held regarding New York's current and future efforts to help Puerto Rico rebuild and thrive. Throughout the meeting, it was clear that our priority was to facilitate a more comprehensive, multi-pronged rebuilding and reconstruction roadmap for Puerto Rico. This meeting made me feel that New York State will continue to be a key supporter of the island's recovery efforts and the Puerto Rican people. 

After countless hours connecting with grassroots organizations in Puerto Rico and a humbling week long visit to the island, which allowed me to see firsthand the utter devastation and the various needs that exist, I presented Governor Cuomo and the committee members with a list of priorities and recommendations that focused on the various issue areas including Counseling and Mental Health Services, Extension of SUNY and CUNY Credit Program, among others. 

This meeting is just a first step.

I look forward to continue working alongside the Governor and members of this Committee to formulate and implement a robust and ambitious plan to help our fellow brothers and sisters of Puerto Rico rise and take the reins of their own future.

NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE BANS SMOKING NEAR LIBRARIES

   New Yorkers everywhere can take a collective breath of fresh air, at least near a school or now: your closest library. A bill (A.330B/S.169-B), introduced by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Gustavo Rivera, has passed both houses of the state legislature and now awaits delivery to the Governor for signing. In 2012, Dinowitz and Rivera passed legislation enacting a ban on smoking within 100 feet of all entrances, exits, and outside areas of all primary and secondary schools in New York State. This law would apply the same policy to all libraries.

Following the Clean Indoor Air Act in 2003, smoking was prohibited in all workplaces and smokers everywhere were forced to go outside to indulge their habits. These smokers are now frequently found in close proximity to entrances and exits of all buildings, exposing countless passersby to secondhand smoke and increasing their risk of respiratory infections and cancer-inducing abnormal cell growth. Libraries, similar to schools, serve some of our most vulnerable populations when it comes to secondhand smoke, including both young children and senior citizens. 

The legislative process now turns to Governor Cuomo, who signed the ban on smoking near schools along with a ban on e-cigarette sales to minors as part of a package designed to protect New York's youth from harmful effects of cigarettes.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera said: "This bill will help our State further curtail New Yorkers' exposure to the dangers of secondhand smoke, especially around commonly shared spaces, such as public libraries. With smoking bans already in place outside schools and afterschool programs across our State, this bill further ensures New Yorkers, especially our children, are able to access and enjoy learning spaces without worrying about their health. This common sense measure will go a long way in providing our youth with the safe educational environments they deserve. I urge Governor Cuomo to join the Legislature in supporting this measure and sign this bill into law once it reaches his desk."

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: "Libraries, like schools, are often the heart of a neighborhood. They bring together a huge variety of community members, and I'm willing to bet that most of these folks are not there to inhale somebody else's secondhand smoke. Given that the library is a place we encourage our children to go as often as possible, a smoking ban is common-sense public policy. I thank State Senator Rivera for his continued partnership on this important issue as well as Governor Cuomo again for his support in the fight against tobacco."

Senator Rivera Introduces Legislative Resolution Celebrating the Life of Puerto Rican and Latino Civic Leader Angelo Falcón

   State Senator Gustavo Rivera introduced a resolution paying tribute to the life and community activism of Angelo Falcón, founder and president of the National Institute of Latino Policy (NILP), who passed away on Thursday, May 24, 2018. Mr. Angelo Falcón was an influential Puerto Rican political analyst and journalist who advocated and empowered Latino communities across the United States, especially in New York. Recently, Mr. Falcón became a fierce advocate for Puerto Rico's relief efforts devoting countless resources to bringing attention to the needs of Puerto Ricans on the island and those who were displaced after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. 

"Angelo Falcón was a legendary intellectual, activist, and scholar who spent the majority of his years advocating on issues of equality and social justice in order to help empower and uplift the Puerto Rican and Latino communities across our city, state and country. Mr. Falcón's prolific career was marked by his tireless work engaging and promoting more Latino participation in government in an effort to raise critical awareness on the significant problems facing our communities; while holding those in power accountable through his trailblazing community advocacy and research. His premature death leaves an immense void in our state's civic discourse, one that will be difficult to replace. In his honor, I am committed to continue working diligently to fight for policies that will lift up our communities and make them thrive." 

2018 NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE, SUN. JUNE 10th

61st ANNUAL NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE ON FIFTH AVENUE  SUNDAY, JUNE 10th 2018 11:00AM - 5:00PM

DESCRIPTION:   The 61th Annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade will take place on New York City's Fifth Avenue, Sunday, June 10th, starting at 11am.  2018 honorees include: · Esaí Morales (Parade Grand Marshal) · Zuleyka Rivera (Parade Queen) · David Begnaud (Puerto Rican Champion) · Ismael Miranda (Lifetime Achievement Award) · Michael Stuart (Parade Ambassador) ·1st Responders and Heroes in the Puerto Rico relief, recovery and rebuilding    efforts post Hurricane Maria  America's largest cultural celebration with over 1.5 million spectators this year will also feature: Richard "Crazy Legs: Colón:  Hip Hop artist, B-Boy and philanthropist Tats Cru (Wilfredo "Bio" Feliciano, BG 183 and Hector "Nicer" Nazario):  Bronx-based graffiti artists and professional muralists Virginia Sánchez Korrol, PhD:  Educator, historian and novelist, specializing in Puerto Rican studies Sunny Hostin:  Attorney, Emmy-Award winning journalist and co-host of ABC's "The View" Jackie Guerrido:  Television personality, journalist and co-anchor of Univision's "Primer Impacto" Julio "Gaby" Acevedo:  Reporter for NBC4 and Telemundo 47/WNJU Allan Villafaña:  co-anchor for "Primera Edicíon"and host of "Enfoque", Telemundo 47/WNJU Ricardo Villarini:  Reporter for Telemundo 47/WNJU Johnny Bliss:  singer and contest on NBC's "The Voice" WHERE:   Fifth Avenue From 44th Street to 79th Street New York, NY 10075   ADMISSION:   FREE. Open to the public. With 100,000 marchers and 1.5 million spectators, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade is one of the largest parades in the world.  Organizers and NYC local authorities request your full cooperation in observing the rules of security.

THE CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION WILL HOLD AN ISSUE FORUM ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE

  The City’s Charter Revision Commission will hold an issue forum on Thursday, June 14^th, 2018.The issue forum will feature experts to discuss Campaign Finance. The meeting will be held at NYU’s D’Agostino Hall, 108 West Third Street. This meeting is open to the public. Because this is a public meeting and not a public hearing, the public will have the opportunity to observe the Commission’s discussions, but not testify before it. 

WHO: The Charter Revision Commission

WHAT: Issue Forum

WHEN: Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 1PM

WHERE:  NYU’s D’Agostino Hall, 108 West Third Street St New York, NY 10012

LIVE STREAM: NYC.gov/charter

FOLLOW US: https://twitter.com/nyccharter and facebook.com/nyccharter

This location is accessible to individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Induction loop systems, ASL interpreters, and Spanish interpreters will be available. In addition, with advance notice, members of the public may request language interpreters. Please make language interpretation requests or additional accessibility requests by 5PM no later than June 11, 2018 by emailing the Commission at requests@charter.nyc.gov or calling 212-386-5350.

Bronx Democratic County Leader Crespo Introduces his Anointed Successor to Luis Sepulveda, While Former Master Sergeant John Perez Also Announces His Candidacy for the 87th Assembly District

  In two separate events at very much the same time Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo brought out his choice to fill the current vacancy of the 87th Assembly District Nurse Karines Reyes. At the same time in another part of the 87th Assembly District former Master Sergeant, Community Activist , and Community Planner John Perez announced his candidacy for the vacant 87th assembly seat. 

  I could not be at two places at once, and attended the public announcement of Nurse Reyes for the 87th A.D. Back in February at a Bronx Democratic County event County Leader Marcos Crespo told the Bronx Democratic Party loyalist that Karines Reyes was his choice to take over the 87th Assembly District from soon to be former Assemblyman and future State Senator Luis Sepulveda. There was talk of Sepulveda's son taking over his father's seat, but Bronx Democratic County Leader Crespo was selling the seat to the New York State Nurses union.

  Shortly after arriving Democratic County Leader Crespo came towards this veteran Jewish reporter working for a Muslim Parkchester Newspaper telling him what to write, and then used a profanity that can not be printed here. Things seemed to go downhill from there for Crespo, as he said that after the special election which propelled then Assemblyman Sepulveda to the State Senate, saying that it was in late April after a screening process that he chose Nurse Reyes who came to him as the best candidate. As he introduced Nurse Reyes all Crespo could say was Karines Reyes has lived in the area for about twenty years, that Karines Reyes is an oncology nurse at Montifore Hospital, and a loyal member to her union the State Nurses Union. 

  Crespo also said that he was not going to let anyone parachute into the district, a direct insult aimed at Nurse Reyes's opponent Sergeant John Perez an eighteen year highly decorated wounded in battle veteran. That comment was also an insult to each and every person who is or has served in the armed forces including Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr's son who is now in basic training.  

  It appears that the current 87th Assembly Female State Committeewoman Ms. Barbara Brown has told the Bronx Democratic organization that she does not want to run on their petition, and is running on the petition of  John Perez in the 87th assembly district. State Committeewoman Barbara Brown told me last night that after a meeting with Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., he told her that both she and John Perez will be the winners in the 87th assembly district.

Above - Current Female District Leader Julia Rodriguez is given a slip of paper from the new Bronx Democratic County political director on what to say.

Below - A photo of Nurse Reyes (center) as she waits to speak.

Above - Ms. Jill Furillo the head of the New York State Nurses Union talks about what Nurse Reyes's Platform will be. I later interviewed Ms. Furillo who told me among the many things we spoke about, the condition of Montefiore Hospital where Nurse Reyes works. That interview and the only reason Nurse Reyes is running will be published in another article.

Below - Nurse Reyes finally was able to speak. 

Above - Nurse Reyes at a Bangladesh event improperly dressed in hospital scrubs.

Below - Sergeant Perez in his Dress Uniform at a different Bangladesh event.  .

Above - Sergeant John Perez with New York State candidate for Governor Cynthia Nixon.

Below - Sergeant John Perez with 34th Senate District State Senate candidate Alessandra Biaggi.

  

ASSEMBLYMAN RON KIM'S STATEMENT ON EDUCATION COMMITTEE VOTE REGARDING SHSATS REFORM

This morning, the Assembly Education Committee passed A.10427A by one vote, 16 to 13. Assemblyman Ron Kim issued the following statement:

"I am disappointed that the Education Committee voted to pass this measure. I voted no on A.10427A because this last minute politicization of the very serious issue of segregation and diversity in our public schools is merely political theatrics to distract from the truth: Under mayoral control, the quality of our K-8 public schools have failed to improve, something that is essential to achieving racial equity in our system.

Instead, in a last minute effort to score political points, the mayor is scapegoating the specialized high school exam as the problem for a systemic failure in our education system.

If the Chancellor and the Mayor were serious about reforming the test, he had eight years to discuss this with us, including last month, when NYC Council member Peter Koo and I personally brought up this topic with the Chancellor.

Furthermore, what's so troubling about City Hall's narrative around this topic is that THEY ARE DISCOUNTING THE FACT THAT ASIAN AMERICANS ARE ALSO People of Color, minorities and immigrants. We also want an equal opportunity and a fair chance. They are neglecting the fact that more Asian Americans in NYC live under the poverty line than any other immigrant groups. 

Any narrative that denies this has bought into and perpetuates the Model-Minority Myth against Asians, but it's even worse when done in the name of reform and social justice. The Mayor and Chancellors’s route for fixing the diversity problem divides communities of color against one another. Specialized High Schools have a diversity problem, but we can't fix it by targeting one group for the sake of others.

It's also beyond insulting for City Hall to suggest that Black and Latino kids are incapable of doing well on the SHSAT, or that just because one is Black or Latino, one is poor. The Mayor stated that soft efforts to diversify thus far have failed. What exactly were the efforts to increase Black and Latino student success on the SHSATs? Is this an acknowledgement that the city failed in its soft efforts? How is it fair for AAPIs to disproportionately bear the brunt of the Mayor’s failure?"

News From Congressman Joseph Crowley

Chairman Crowley to ICE Director: Unacceptable For You to Address Hate Group

  House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) wrote a letter to Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Thomas Homan expressing dismay over the ICE director’s plan to address a known hate group.

Homan is scheduled to address the Center for Immigration Studies, a racist anti-immigrant hate group that has a long track-record of demonizing immigrants, on Tuesday. Crowley told Homan that it is disqualifying for a government official, especially one charged with interacting with immigrant communities, to address the group.

“It is highly inappropriate for a senior official of a federal agency to engage with a group that spreads such abhorrent viewpoints, including white supremacism and anti-Semitism, and I urge you to immediately retract your plans to speak,” Crowley wrote.

The Center for Immigration Studies is part of a network founded by white nationalist John Tanton, and in a wide-ranging study, the Southern Poverty Law Center found that CIS has circulated “white nationalist content thousands of times” and has a “record of publishing reports that hype the criminality of immigrants" according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“Lending legitimacy to a hate group and splitting children from families does not in any way protect national security and public safety, nor does it demonstrate the integrity and fairness that is expected of a federal agency. Instead, it fosters an environment in which extremist viewpoints come to be seen as acceptable and justified by the highest levels of your agency,” Crowley wrote. “Speaking to a group like this is disqualifying for a federal official entrusted with acting in the best interests of the general public.”

You can read the letter here.

Congressman Crowley Calls For $10 Billion Investment to Build New Schools for Communities in Need

  Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, introduced legislation to invest $10 billion toward building new schools to address chronic overcrowding in primary, middle, and high schools.

The School Overcrowding Reduction Act is part of Congressman Crowley’s Better Deal for Queens and the Bronx, a comprehensive plan put forward by Congressman Crowley to improve the lives of families, working men and women, and students in New York’s 14th Congressional District. 

“Our nation’s students deserve a world-class education, but we have failed to allocate the resources necessary for them to flourish,” said Congressman Crowley. “My district is home to some of the most overcrowded schools in the country, including Corona, Queens, where there is a need for more than 5,000 additional classroom seats. There’s no time to waste on half-measures. Surely if my Republican colleagues can spend $2.3 trillion doling out tax breaks to the 1 percent, we can invest a fraction of that into the next generation of American innovators and leaders.”  

“Students succeed when they’re in schools equipped with the resources, tools and conditions that promote high-quality teaching and learning,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. “The teacher walkouts this year in Arizona, Oklahoma, West Virginia and elsewhere made clear that putting public education on the budgetary chopping block has resulted in overcrowded classrooms nationwide, making it more difficult for educators to effectively reach individual students and cater to diverse needs. More than a quarter of states lack class-size restrictions, yet state governments are still failing to budget for new schools and additional teachers. This bill does just that. Lowering class size is crucial to student success, and we’re proud to support Rep. Crowley’s legislation. It seeks to meet a critical need in our public schools, investing much-needed dollars in overcrowded districts and reducing student-to-teacher ratios specifically in disadvantaged communities.”

"The Rebuild America's School Infrastructure Coalition (BASIC) is pleased that Cong. Crowley is showing the leadership needed to address overcrowding in our nation's public schools,” said Mary Filardo, Executive Director of the 21^stCentury School Fund. “The recent protests by teachers all across the country is an expression of the growing frustration they feel about their working conditions and the state of their school facilities. Many Classrooms are over crowded and crowded conditions make unhealthy classroom environments even worse. We appreciate Cong. Crowley's recognition that over crowding in our nation's public schools is also an equity issue - giving every child the opportunity to have a first class education." 

“Here in New York City, about 300,000 students are in classes of 30 or more, and more than half a million are crammed into overcrowded school buildings, saidLeonie Haimson, Executive Director of Class Size Matters. “Yet the city’s capital plan is only half-funded. One cannot ensure either educational equity or excellence under these conditions. This bill will provide critical federal funds to help alleviate overcrowding and excessive class sizes in NYC and the nation as a whole.”

This legislation would invest $10 billion in federal funding for new school construction to reduce the number of overcrowded schools in areas like New York City and help students succeed. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Education shows that class-size reduction can significantly improve student performance and additional studies show that smaller classrooms allow teachers to better accommodate the unique learning styles of their students.

New York City classrooms have become overly crowded in the past two decades. Some of the largest classrooms in New York City, which boast more than 30 students per class, are located in Queens and the Bronx. According to the NYC DOE, the city’s largest 6^th grade classes are all located in the Bronx and Queens is home to the largest class sizes for grades K-3.

Chairman Crowley has championed policies that support our nation’s students and teachers throughout his time in Congress. Last month, he introduced legislation to combat noise pollution in schools, an issue that acutely impacts New York City schoolchildren. In April, Chairman Crowley advocated for additional funding for federal aid programs that benefit low-income college students in the 2019 government funding bill. He has also partnered with local elected officials to ensure the needs of students living in Queens and the Bronx are fully satisfied.

Chairman Crowley’s Better Deal plan for Queens and the Bronx can be read here.

Crowley Statement on the Republican Sabotage of Medicare

Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley released the following statement on the 2018 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report:

“Today’s Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report presents a bleak picture for our nation’s seniors and vulnerable individuals by providing new proof that the campaign by President Trump and congressional Republicans to destroy the Affordable Care Act has had devastating impacts on Medicare. By repealing the individual mandate, driving up individual market premiums, and increasing the rate of uncompensated care, the Republican tax bill has threatened the future health care by cutting the life of the Medicare trust fund by three years. This is irresponsible governing from Republicans.

“Still, today’s report provides evidence that Social Security is an essential program, which makes it all the more important that Congress focuses on ways to grow, strengthen, and expand Social Security - and not succumb to efforts by Republicans to undermine and slash Americans’ hard-earned benefits. This is how Democrats intend to govern. I hope Republicans will join us.”