New York Gov. Kathy Hochul this weekend once again vetoed legislation to dramatically expand the categories of damages that can be recovered via lawsuit for an alleged wrongful death. In the veto message, Gov. Hochul emphasized that the bill posed a risk to the financial well-being of the state’s healthcare system and could lead to higher costs, including insurance premiums.
Big I New York has been a staunch opponent of the proposal, citing a multi-billion annual impact on insurance premiums and other costs to New York families and businesses. The governor wrote that although she had proposed several changes to make the bill more palatable, the third iteration did not go far enough to address concerns.
In a statement issued Saturday evening, Big I New York Board Chair David Bodenstein thanked Gov. Hochul for protecting New York residents and businesses. Leading up to the veto, Big I New York members delivered hundreds of letters to the governor urging her to prioritize affordability amid the economic challenges facing consumers.
Thank you to those members who participated in the call to action. The support of the grassroots advocacy network is essential, especially on high profile issues such as this.