“Budget hearings do not provide adequate time for the thorough public inquiry owed to the families who lost loved ones during the nursing home crisis. Because members have been stonewalled by the administration since August, it’s understandable that many of them used their time to question Dr. Zucker about the nursing home cover-up. Still, healthcare represents the largest single expenditure in our state budget. Patients, providers and taxpayers were shortchanged by government today. This illustrates why it’s so important for us to question Dr. Zucker and other top administration officials under oath at a bipartisan public hearing after reviewing all relevant documents and communications,” said Ra.