Gary on the Issues

As a former teacher in the New York City public-school system, I know firsthand the tremendous impact that a quality education provides to students. Unfortunately, the previous Administration never adequately addressed budget shortfalls in America’s schools. As a result, teachers often would purchase supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets – a noble but expensive act. I have continually supported legislation that would make such purchases completely tax deductible. read more »

Every American should have quality, affordable health insurance. But America’s health-care system has been broken for decades. At the beginning of 2010, 46 million Americans were without health-insurance coverage, including nearly three million children here in New York State. Aside from the moral obligation that the United States – the richest country on Earth – owes to its citizens’ well-being, those of us fortunate enough to have insurance were paying the price: In 2009, the average American family paid $1,100 more on their health-care insurance premiums to cover the care provided to the tens of millions of Americans who were without coverage. read more »