Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D, I-Utica/Rome) recently hosted a virtual town hall meeting to address a number of constituent concerns, which included funding for agriculture initiatives, the appointing of essential caregivers and school funding, among other topics. The Assemblywoman also discussed two bills she is co-sponsoring, both of which relate to COVID-19 relief.

“To be effective, I need to know what the people I represent care about and support legislation that will help our community,” Buttenschon said. “One of the biggest concerns expressed in the meeting was Cuomo’s administration's undercounting and dismissal of COVID-19 deaths and the essential caregivers act. Last April, my colleague Senator Griffo and I called on the State to protect nursing home residents. At the time we called out the Governor’s dangerous plan of ordering nursing homes and long-term care facilities to accept patients and residents who had tested positive – or who were suspected of being positive – into their care. I also introduced legislation which would establish limits on the Governor’s emergency powers by establishing a 30-day limit on disaster declarations and to provide for greater legislative authority over the granting of a disaster declaration to the Governor. The Governor’s actions constitute a blatant betrayal of public trust for which my thoughts have already been made clear.”

Assemblywoman Buttenschon was also one of the first supporters of bill (A.3162/S.2067), would establish a state commission to independently study and investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic response on deaths in nursing homes. 

Another bill brought up in the town hall would authorize the state Department of Health (DOH) to develop regulations and allow family members and legal guardians of nursing home residents to provide them with “compassionate caregiving visitation” (A.1052-B). The bill is designed to ease the mental and emotional burden that prolonged isolation has caused for nursing home and long-term care facility residents.

 To make the 2021 Budget process informative and inclusive, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Buttenschon expanded on community engagement and broke down the state’s budget process. Public key issues facing the state’s finances, such as Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act Federal Funding Allocation and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which was recently authorized through federal COVID-19 relief legislation, brought about several topics and continued discussion.

After one of the most painful years in Mohawk Valley’s history, this budget must put us on a path to recovery. That requires working closely with my colleagues in government to make responsible and well-thought out choices that ensure our residents’ needs are met. It’s imperative that I touch base with everyone in my community so that I may support programs that are beneficial to the health, welfare and financial stability of my constituents, Buttenschon noted.

Buttenschon’s Town Hall can be viewed on her website at: www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Marianne-Buttenschon