2010 Elections and the Cancer Fight

Continuing the Fight Against Cancer Through Advocacyby Peter Slocum
Vice President for Advocacy in New York and New Jersey

The 2010 Midterm elections changed the political landscape across much of the United States. Republicans took back control of the House of Representatives -- gaining at least 5 seats in New York and one in New Jersey -- as voters took out their distress about the long lingering recession, and the growing deficit, on the party in power. Democrats paid the price.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?

The American Cancer Society and its sister advocacy organization the American Cancer Society's Cancer Ation Network, do not take sides in elections and don't favor one party over the other.

However, ACS and ACS CAN volunteers and staff worked very hard over the past few years to bring about meaningful improvements to the way our health care system treats cancer patients and their families. It may not be perfect, but the new Affordable Care Act contains major victories for cancer patients -- no more lifetime or annual coverage limits, a ban on pre-existing conditions discrimination, no co-pays for cancer screenings, and more.

Clearly, some new members of the GOP House majority will want to roll back the Affordable Care Act, and a highly visible component if their supporters campaigned against "Obamacare." There is no question that anger about the health care debate hurt Democratic candidates here in NY and NJ, as well as around the country. While outright repeal is not possible with the President prepared to veto that, there will likely be a big fight over changes. Don't be surprised if there is a protracted effort to roll back the individual mandate that takes effect in 2014.

DEMS LOSE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS IN NJ AND NYS.

Our Eastern Division voters did join the national trend when it came to Congressional seats. They ousted new Democrats in Central Jersey (John Adler), Staten Island (Michael McMahon), the Hudson Valley (John Hall), the Utica area (Michael Acuri), the Capital-Saratoga region (Scott Murphy) and won an open seat along the Southern Tier. In several of these races ACS CAN volunteers used voter guides intended to highlight cancer issues.

US SENATE--NY
Democrats Charles Shumer and Kirsten Gillibrand cruised to easy wins.

NEW YORK STATE RACES BUCK THE TREND

In New York State, voters overwhelmingly rejected the Tea Party-backed conservative GOP candidate in favor of Andrew Cuomo, son of the ex governor who himself was turned out of office in 1994 on a wave of "Anybody But Cuomo" sentiment. Certainly, Carl Paladino was a candidate who made a lot of mistakes, but it does seem he was too conservative for the New York electorate.

In other statewide races, Democrat Eric Schneiderman beat Dan Donovan for the job of Attorney General, and incumbent comptroller Tom DiNapoli hung on against GOP challenger Harry Wilson.

In State Legislative races, the old cliche "too close to call" applies when it comes to the state Senate. The Republicans picked up a couple of Senate seats, but lost others, and control of the Senate will depend on three recounts. In the Assembly, the Democrats had no problem holding an overwhelming majority.

AND NOW WHAT?

What does this mean for our fight against cancer here in NJ and NYS?

In New York, Gov-elect Cuomo faces a huge budget problem. On a call last Friday, he said, "I want to be clear on expectations. The state's finances are so bad it's frightening. And it's only getting worse. It's all bad and there is no end in sight, not next year, not the following year, maybe not in a third year."

Cuomo is sounding a lot like Chris Christie in New Jersey on the subject of government spending. And he is sounding a similar theme about the need to get a handle on public employee health care and pension costs.

So we are not going to see any significant program expansion, and we will struggle to maintain funding for tobacco control and cancer screening, just as we have in New Jersey. Given the strong stand Cuomo took as Attorney General, and the state's desperate need for revenue, we anticipate the new Governor will press to end the flood of tax free cigarette sales from Indian reservations. We will work to hold him to it.