Sen. Fasano: “Talk is Cheap” on Nursing Home Funding; Own Your ‘Yes’ Vote

Sen. Fasano: “Talk is Cheap” on Nursing Home Funding

Senate Republican Leader Says Democrats Must “Own” Their Yes Vote on State Budget Containing “Cruel” Cut

HARTFORD – Today, Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) issued the following statement in response to SEIU 1199NE’s Monday press conference on nursing home policy.

“I applaud 1199 and the nursing home staff that stood up today against the debilitating cuts to nursing homes contained in the Democrat budget.  But to the Democrat legislators that were in the room, I say, “Talk is cheap”.  These same Democrat lawmakers voted ‘yes’ to approving this cruel and devastating cut just months ago.  Not one of them stood up to recant their ‘yes’ vote on the state budget which contains this heartless cut, and they instead tried to place all the blame at the governor’s feet.

“Connecticut Democrats: Take responsibility for your ‘yes’ vote. Own it. You praised the state budget as you voted ‘yes’ on it. Either you didn’t read the budget bill prior to voting ‘yes’, or you knew what was in it and voted ‘yes’ anyway. If you have regrets about your vote, then do the right thing. Admit it and call upon the governor and your Democrat leadership to hold a special session to restore this funding for Connecticut nursing homes.”

On Friday, Sen. Fasano wrote to Governor Ned Lamont to demand that he call a special legislative session to reverse a policy contained in the Democrat budget that will result in dramatic Medicaid cuts and put nine nursing homes at risk of closure. Sen. Fasano said the Department of Social Services’ decision announced last week to delay the policy is nowhere near a solution, and Democrat lawmakers have been noncommittal on reversing this policy in its entirety to restore the full funding.

“Simply delaying this policy is nowhere near a solution. Lawmakers need to be called in to a special legislative session to reverse this damaging Democrat policy. I implore you to take action,” Fasano wrote.

“There are a number of Democrats who have decried the policy they voted for,” Fasano continued. “We need to know if the Democrat outrage is simply lip service or if Democrat lawmakers are serious about reversing this policy. The only way to find out is to hold a vote. Senate Republicans will vote to restore this funding. Will Democrats back up their words with actions? Or is this another hypocritical moment within the Democrat Party?

“We need our governor, as leader of the state, to take strong action and to have the courage to stand up, admit a wrong, and fix it,” wrote Fasano.