The 'ins and outs' of the CD4 cash contest

Daily Point

D’Esposito says Gillen's money is coming from outside CD4

As the campaigns for Long Island’s House seats shift their strategies in response to the change at the top of the Democratic ticket, Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is drilling down on one aspect he says distinguishes his campaign from Democrat Laura Gillen’s in CD4: The money.

At first glance, it seems an issue on which Gillen would have an advantage. As of the July filings, Gillen has more money on hand than D’Esposito, according to recently filed federal campaign records which showed Gillen with $2.5 million and D’Esposito with $2.2 million in the bank. Nonetheless, the D’Esposito campaign is looking to discount that advantage. The question it’s asking: How much of the money was raised locally?

On that, D’Esposito spokesman Matt Capp said, D’Esposito is winning. In the second quarter, he said, D’Esposito raised $425,379 from supporters within CD4, 38% of the $1.1 million he raised in total for the quarter. When accounting for only itemized contributions — those that are reported to the Federal Election Commission with full identifying information for each contributor and made available to the public — that percentage fell to 32%, Capp said.

Capp said an analysis of Gillen’s individual itemized contributions available to the public showed she raised $553,912.43 — with just 3.9% or $21,575 coming from inside the district.

The D’Esposito campaign is using that contrast to argue that the Republican congressman has greater support in the district — and better understands the issues that impact the district.

"It just shows that Anthony D’Esposito’s positions and the stands that he has taken and the way he positions himself resonate more deeply with community members here, whereas Gillen is having to rely on out of state and people from other parts of the country to boost their campaign," Capp said.

But Gillen campaign manager Sarah Carlson told The Point that Gillen has "the clear edge in fundraising and in grassroots mobilization across the district."

"We overtook D’Esposito’s cash advantage and we mobilized 200 volunteers just this weekend," Carlson said. "Voters are fired up and ready to hold D’Esposito accountable for his partisan grandstanding…”

Only 102 days to go.

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

Pencil Point

Leave no weapon unturned

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Final Point

NY’s retiree-health-benefit quarrels spread

By now it is well known that an attempt by New York City and municipal unions to replace retirees’ traditional Medicare benefit with a private Medicare Advantage plan has been halted in court. It even backfired into the surprise election of a dissident candidate to head the retirees’ chapter of the United Federation of Teachers.

That has been the widest-publicized dispute of its kind. But there are parallel clashes elsewhere with differing details. Proposals to change other retirees’ plans under the pressure of rising health costs have prompted separate backlashes — objections, lawsuits, and political coalitions — in other parts of New York State, including Long Island.

In Nassau County, the Civil Service Employees Association agreed in its most recent contract to replace their state Empire Plan coverage with what many grumble is thinner state Excelsior Plan coverage. Retirees belonging to the Nassau Retirees Legal Fund sued last year, arguing that the county didn’t have the unilateral authority to make the change.

For one thing, they said, the CSEA doesn’t negotiate on their behalf, only for its active current members, and traded the expected county budget savings for employee raises and other benefit enhancements.

Scott Cohen, speaking for the retirees fund, noted that the matter is still in Nassau State Supreme Court. The group got a temporary injunction against the Empire-to-Excelsior switch for themselves. On behalf of the county, lawyer Peter Bee filed a motion to dismiss, which is still pending. Meanwhile, union officials say the Excelsior plan, part of the New York State Health Insurance Program, is likely to be discontinued, sending employees back to Empire, where they remain for now anyway.

Cohen described to The Point how a wider organization has formed calling itself the New York State Coalition of Public Service Retirees. Several years ago, the city uproar began with the efforts of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees.

This issue hasn’t just been about the big jurisdictions. Public-service retirees in upstate Cortland County, which has a population of about 46,000, succeeded in turning back the proposed transition to a Medicare Advantage plan. Such plans are essentially privately-offered alternatives to traditional Medicare that critics allege to be lesser plans.

In the case of Cortland, warnings from the wary spread about Advantage plans’ pre-authorization requirements and their provider networks. Last year, the county legislature held a hearing and moved to advance the plan. A lawsuit was filed and a judge blocked the change. Then the county lawmakers gave in and canceled the changeover.

More such friction and debate is expected to develop as savings-seeking municipal officials face the financial realities of providing health benefits and retirees look to hold on to what they  were long promised. 

— Dan Janison dan.janison@newsday.com

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