[ THEME MUSIC ] WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

THE APRIL 1ST DEADLINE FOR THE STATE BUDGET CAME AND WENT THIS WEEK WITH LEADERS UNABLE TO COME TO A FINAL AGREEMENT.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SIGNED TWO EXTENDERS OFFICIALLY PUSHING THE BUDGET DEADLINE TO NEXT WEEK.

THE BIGGEST POINTS OF CONTENTION THIS YEAR ARE CHANGES TO THE STATE'S DISCOVERY LAW, APPROACHING INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT, PROHIBITING CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS AND TACKLING MASK BANS.

LEADERS ARE ALSO NEGOTIATING THE STATE BUDGET WITH THE LOOMING BACKDROP OF POTENTIAL CUTS FROM WASHINGTON.

WHILE NOTHING IS SET IN STONE AT THIS TIME, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE CALLED ON THE NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO STAND UP AGAINST THE CUTS.

OUR ELISE KLINE HAS MORE ON THAT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ENORMOUS PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS TOTALING IN HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WASHINGTON HAS NEW YORK LEADERS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAVE OF POTENTIAL HARMFUL IMPACTS FOR NEW YORKERS WHO RELY ON FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR SNAP.

UNITED STATES HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING CUTTING $2.3 TRILLION IN MEDICAID AND $230 BILLION IN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE SNAP PROGRAM, OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAYS CUTS PROPOSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WON'T BE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE STATE.

SHE SAYS THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN BACKFILL THOSE LOSSES, HIGHLIGHTING NEW YORK RECEIVES AROUND $93 BILLION EVERY YEAR IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO FUND VARIOUS PROGRAMS.

LIKE THESE CUTS WILL HAVE A-- WE WILL BE THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE, THE ROADKILL IN THE WAY OF THESE POLICIES BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

I'M NOT THROWING IN THE TOWEL.

I'M JUST SAYING REALISTICALLY, HOW DO I MAKE UP THAT MONEY?

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

HOCHUL ADDS SHE PLANS TO STAND UP, FIGHT AND GO TO COURT IF NECESSARY.

OTHER STATE LEADERS, LIKE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE, SAY REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS, ESPECIALLY THE SEVEN REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES FOR NEW YORK, SEEMINGLY SUPPORTING THESE CUTS SHOULD BE SPEAKING UP.

DONALD TRUMP CAN'T DO ANY OF THESE THINGS BUDGETARILY WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THESE SEVEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AGAIN, THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES ASKED, ARE THEY OKAY WITH CUTTING MEDICAID TO PEOPLE?

POINT OF FACT, YOU KNOW, CONGRESSMAN LAWLER HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST MEDICAID RECIPIENT COUNTIES IN THE ENTIRE NATION IN A COMMENT SENT TO WMHT, UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE NICK LANGWORTHY SERVING NEW YORK'S 23RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SAID MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WILL NOT BE CUT.

ONLY, QUOTE, WASTE AND FRAUD WILL BE ROOTED OUT.

WMHT HAS REACHED OUT TO ALL SEVEN NEW YORK REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES REPEATEDLY FOR THIS STORY.

NONE OF THE OTHER SIX REPRESENTATIVES RESPONDED FOR COMMENT DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS.

CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANSWERS.

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TONKO, SERVING NEW YORK'S 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SAYS REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN HOPEFULLY SILENT.

SILENCE, SILENCE IS THAT IS DEAFENING.

YOU KNOW..

SPEAK UP.

SHARE YOUR OPINION HERE.

WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING THE RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD, A MULTIBILLIONAIRE, A MAGA BILLIONAIRE, WIELDING NOT EVEN AN AXE.

HE'S WIELDING A CHAINSAW AT PROGRAMS THAT ARE TREMENDOUSLY RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGE GROUPS.

TONKO ADDS HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY REPUBLICANS ARE CONTINUING SILENCE ON THESE LARGE CUTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO SUGGEST THAT I UNDERSTAND THEIR MOTIVATIONS.

BUT FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE THEY NEED TO BEGIN TO SPEAK OUT, SPEAK UP AND SHOW UP.

MEANWHILE, SOME STATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS, LIKE STATE SENATE MINORITY LEADER ROB ORTT, REPRESENTING NIAGARA AND ORLEANS COUNTIES, SAY CONGRESS WILL HAVE THEIR SAY AND THEY FEEL CONFIDENT IN U.S. REPUBLICAN REPS' ABILITY TO FIGHT.

CONGRESS IS GONNA GET THEIR SAY.

PEOPLE LIKE MIKE LAWLER AND ANDREW GARBARINO, NICK LALOTA, NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS, NICK LANGWORTHY, AND OBVIOUSLY CLAUDIA TENNEY, WHO I HAVE SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS, ARE GONNA GET THEIR SAY.

THEY UNDERSTAND CERTAIN PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO NEW YORKERS AND THEY'RE GONNA FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE STILL THERE.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALSO CONTINUES TO STRESS THEY ONLY PLAN TO CUT, QUOTE, WASTE AND FRAUD IN MEDICAID DOLLARS.

AT A PRESSER ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, OR THE ECHOED SIMILAR IDEAS SAYING THE STATE SPENDS TOO MUCH MONEY AND UNWISELY.

HE SAYS HE FEELS THE PROGRAMS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

THE WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE IN THIS STATE IS TERRIBLE.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

SO THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SPEND MONEY EFFECTIVELY TO HELP PEOPLE AND WE SHOULD.

ESPECIALLY GORE THE POOREST OF FOLKS WHO NEED HELP.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENS?

WE SPEND MONEY TO PROP UP ORGANIZATIONS TO HIRE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE POLITICAL OPERATIVES.

STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE FINGER LAKES, SAYS HE'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE FRAUD WITHIN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

THERE ARE STILL A MILLION MEDICAID RECIPIENTS IN NEW YORK STATE THAT ARE COSTING TAXPAYERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR THAT WE CANNOT PROVE ACTUALLY EXIST.

THEY'RE LIKELY FRAUDULENT.

THEY'RE LIKELY A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE BAD ACTORS, LIKE A LOT OF PROVIDERS THAT ARE FRAUDULENTLY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE DEAD OR MOVED, OR NO LONGER GET THE SERVICE.

SO NEW YORK STATE HAS ESSENTIALLY CONTINUED TO INCUBATE FRAUD IN OUR MEDICAID SYSTEM IN SO MANY WAYS.

HOWEVER, SOME RESEARCH EXPERTS STRESS THIS CONTINUED TALKING POINT BY REPUBLICANS ISN'T WELL SUPPORTED.

LEO CUELLO, A RESEARCH PROFESSOR AT THE GEORGETOWN CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, STRESSES THE ACTUAL POLICY PROPOSAL TO CUT MEDICAID IS NOT SPECIFICALLY TARGETED AT WASTE.

WASTE AND ABUSE IS NOT WHAT THIS DEBATE IS ABOUT BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT THE PROPOSALS ARE ON THE TABLE.

THE PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE IS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A ROTTEN APPLE IN THIS BARREL, SO LET'S POUR OUT HALF THE APPLES FROM THE BARREL RIGHT.

THAT THAT'S THE PROPOSAL.

IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY ADDRESS WHERE THE ROTTEN APPLE IS.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO JUST THROW OUT A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD APPLES.

THEY ARE PROPOSING TO YOU DEFUND THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVEN'T EVEN ESTABLISHED EXISTS IN THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS WASTE AT LEAST NOT ANY MORE THAN EXISTS IN IN MEDICARE AND EXISTS IN PRIVATE COVERAGE AS WELL.

CUELLO ALSO SAYS THE ACTIONS TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS WASTE LIES WITH REPORTING AND INVESTIGATIONS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, WHICH ALREADY EXISTS.

EVERY STATE HAS A MEDICAID INSPECTOR GENERAL, AS WELL AS A U.S. MEDICAID INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO CONDUCTS INVESTIGATIONS FOR SUSPECTED ABUSE.

THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALREADY HAVE AUDITORS THAT DO THIS, BUT WE AND OTHERS HAVE RECOMMENDED, HEY, YOU NEED TO DO MORE, AND THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

INSTEAD, WE'RE SEEING THE REVERSE.

THE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS, ONE OF THEIR PROPOSALS IS TO REPEAL A REGULATION THAT IMPROVES REPORTING.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSE AND MAKE MASSIVE REDUCTIONS OF HHS STAFFING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO DO THIS.

STATE LAWMAKERS LIKE ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOHN MCDONALD, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE CAPITOL REGION, ECHO THE SAME POINT.

IF THERE IS THAT MUCH WASTE GOING ON, IF THEY REALLY FEEL THAT, THERE'S THAT MUCH FRAUD GOING ON, THEN QUITE FRANKLY, THEY SHOULD BE DOING INVESTIGATIONS.

OTHER STATE DEMOCRATS SAY THESE CUTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FRAUD.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA GONZALES-ROJAS, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF QUEENS, SAYS SHE'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PAINFUL EFFECTS OF NEW YORKERS.

IT IS CLEAR THAT REPUBLICANS ARE ON A RAMPAGE TO CUT HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR NEW YORKERS, TO DEFUND CRITICAL SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS AND HONESTLY, PUT US AT RISK OF HEALTH INEQUITIES AND POSSIBLY DEATH FOR SO MANY PEOPLE THAT RELY ON MEDICAID.

WE HAVE ABOUT 7 MILLION PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHO RELY ON THIS LIFE-SAVING PROGRAM.

IN ADDITION TO MEDICAID CUTS, PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP COULD HAVE DRAMATIC CUTS.

THE STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONER BARBARA GUINN, SAYS SHE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THIS PROGRAM THAT IN NEW YORK ALONE ABOUT THREE MILLION PEOPLE RELY ON TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

IF THE SNAP BENEFITS ARE CUT, CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIP.

I MEAN, THE FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE SNAP ARE RELATIVELY LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

GUINN SAYS FAMILIES COULD SEEK ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, SUCH AS FOOD BANKS, BUT THE FOOD ASSISTANCE OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THESE HOUSEHOLDS TO MAKE UP.

SOME STATE AND FEDERAL DEMOCRATS ALSO STRESS THESE PROGRAM CUTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO TRUMP'S DESIRE TO CUT TAXES BY TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS, WHICH MAKE UP A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE NATION COMPARED TO THOSE WHO RELY ON PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID OR SNAP.

IN 2017, TRUMP PROPOSED LEGISLATION HE DESIRES TO CONTINUE UNDER HIS NEW REIGN, SET TO EXPIRE THIS YEAR, TO GIVE TAX CUTS TO THE RICHEST HOUSEHOLDS COSTING AROUND $4 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WHICH IS ABOUT $400 BILLION A YEAR.

REPRESENTATIVE TONKO SAYS EARLIER IN HIS CAREER, HE VOTED AGAINST THIS POLICY MEASURE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AND IS NOT A FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH.

WE NEED TO BE MUCH MORE FAIR AND PROGRESSIVE IN OUR TAX POLICY.

WHY WOULD, YOU KNOW, AT THE EXPENSE OF THAT 4.5 TRILLION IN SAVINGS THAT THEY SWEEP FOR VERY MANY, THE OUTCOME HERE IS INVEST IN TAX CUTS, GIGANTIC TAX CUTS FOR THE VERY FEW AT THE EXPENSE OF PROGRAMATIC ASSISTANCE, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, NUTRITION, FOR THE VERY MANY.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

GONZALEZ-ROJAS SAYS THESE CUTS ARE CRUEL AND SIMPLY AN ASSURANCE FOR THE RICHEST AMERICANS TO GAIN EVEN MORE WEALTH.

THIS IS ABOUT PUTTING MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES, AND TAKING FROM HARD-WORKING NEW YORKERS AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHOSE SOCIAL SAFETY NET IS BEING DECIMATED AND AGAIN, LOSING THEIR HEALTH CARE AND OTHER VITAL PROGRAMS THAT NEW YORKERS AND OTHER PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY DEPEND ON.

IN ADDITION TO PROGRAM CUTS SINCE DONALD TRUMP TOOK OFFICE, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL WORKERS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS IN VARYING AGENCIES.

MOST RECENTLY, THE NEWLY FORMED DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY ESTABLISHED BY TRUMP VIA AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND LED BY ELON MUSK, IS LOOKING TO CUT AROUND 12% OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY WORKFORCE, A PROGRAM THAT SERVES AROUND 70 MILLION RETIRED AMERICANS EACH MONTH.

TONKO SAYS HE IS UTTERLY DISAPPOINTED.

I THINK IT'S SHAMEFUL.

IT'S A DISGRACE.

IT'S A DISREGARD AND A DISRESPECT OF WORKERS.

I CONSIDER, AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, TO BE PART OF MANAGEMENT, AND I FIND MYSELF APOLOGIZING FOR THE OUTCOME AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS SHARED WITH NOW FIRED WORKER.

FOR FEDERAL WORKERS LIKE CHERYL YOUNG, A SOCIAL SECURITY WORKER WHO RECENTLY PROTESTED AGAINST TRUMP AND MUSK'S CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY, THE LEVEL OF FEDERAL FIRINGS MEANS SHE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT HER JOB SECURITY.

EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.

WE ALL HAVE UPS AND DOWNS.

SOME DAYS WE'RE STRONGER.

SOME DAYS WE'RE UPSET.

SOME DAYS WE DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A JOB IN TWO WEEKS.

THE WORK THAT WE DO IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO PERSONALLY, I AM SICK OVER MY JOB AND WHETHER OR NOT I'M GOING TO HAVE IT.

BUT MOSTLY, I THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY GOING TO DO AS WE WATCH EVERYTHING CONTINUE TO FALL AND CRUMBLE INTO RUBBLE?

YOUNG SAYS SHE ALSO WORRIES ABOUT THE PEOPLE SHE HELPS AT HER JOB NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS SERVICES.

AND THE PEOPLE AT SOCIAL SECURITY WHO RECEIVE OUR SERVICES NEED US DESPERATELY.

THIS IS NOT A FRAUD SCHEME.

THIS IS A NEED AND THEY PAID FOR IT, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER WHAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE PAID FOR.

AT A RECENT PRESS CONFERENCE, UNITED STATES SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, REPRESENTING NEW YORK, SAID TRUMP AND MUSK'S ACTIONS AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY WILL HAVE CATASTROPHIC IMPACTS ON SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THESE PEOPLE RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY TO PAY THEIR RENT, THEIR FOOD, THEIR HEATING, THEIR MEDICAL CARE, EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.

GILLIBRAND SAYS SHE IS TRYING TO FIGHT BACK.

I'M ASKING FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICES THAT HAVE HAD THEIR LEASES TERMINATED, INCLUDING TWO IN OUR STATE.

I'M ALSO REQUESTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS TO CUT THE OVER-THE-PHONE SERVICE.

WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ALLEGEDLY SCALED BACK ON ITS INITIAL PLAN, THE DAMAGE IS CLEARLY ALREADY DONE.

GILLIBRAND IS TRYING TO GET HER COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE TO FIGHT WITH HER, BUT SO FAR, THEY'RE STANDING WITH TRUMP.

SHE SAYS THE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WON'T LISTEN TO DEMOCRATS, THEN THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

WITH ALL OF THE POTENTIAL CUTS AND CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SOME STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE EXPRESSED THEY MIGHT NEED TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION AFTER JUNE TO ADDRESS THIS LATER IN THE YEAR.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE SAID IF THEY HAVE TO COME BACK, THEY'LL COME BACK.

MANY QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN.

IF LAWMAKERS HAVE TO COME BACK TO ALBANY, THEY WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT TO SORT THROUGH IF WE SEE THESE BIG CUTS COME THROUGH.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND ALONG WITH NEGOTIATING THE STATE BUDGET, DEMOCRATS HAVE ALSO MADE ACCESS TO ABORTIONS A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, NEW YORK DOCTOR WAS CRIMINALLY CHARGED FOR ALLEGEDLY PRESCRIBING ABORTION PILLS TO A PATIENT OUT IN LOUISIANA.

JEONGYOON HAN OF WXXI AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK SAT DOWN WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER AMY PAULIN TO DISCUSS THE CASE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR NEW YORK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH ME.

HAPPY TO.

SO I FIRST WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A CASE INVOLVING A NEW YORK ABORTION DOCTOR, DR. BARBARA CARPENTER, SHE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ABORTION IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR SENDING ABORTION PILLS TO A PATIENT IN THAT STATE.

SHE'S ALSO FACING CIVIL CHARGES IN TEXAS FOR SENDING PILLS.

WHAT ARE THE CHARGES THAT DR. CARPENTER IS FACING SHOW ABOUT THE STATE OF ABORTION IN THE COUNTRY?

WE KNOW AFTER ROE WAS OVERTURNED THAT WE WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS IN SOME OF THE STATES.

PARTICULARLY THERE WERE REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS EVIDENCE OF THAT.

SO LUCKILY, YOU KNOW, I LIVE.

YOU LIVE.

WE ARE-- OUR FAMILIES ARE HERE IN NEW YORK WHERE THOSE RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED FOR WOMEN, BUT THEY'RE NOT PROTECTED ANYMORE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THERE ARE MANY STATES THAT ARE GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO BE PROBLEMATIC.

THEN WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE THE STATE PLAYING FOR PATIENTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY?

I THINK PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD IT ARE GOING TO COME TO STATES LIKE OURS.

YOU KNOW, ABORTION HAS CHANGED.

YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT SOMEONE CAN HAVE AN ABORTION HAS CHANGED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S EVIDENCED HERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE CASE OF DR. CARPENTER IS THAT THE MEDICATION THAT HELPS TERMINATE A PREGNANCY CAN BE MUCH MORE EASILY TRANSPORTED THAN A DOCTOR OR A NURSE WHO WOULD NEED TO DO A SURGICAL PROCEDURE.

SO I THINK THAT THE ROLE THAT WE CAN PLAY IN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE STAND BEHIND DR. CARPENTER AND OTHER PROVIDERS, YOU KNOW, TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM TO DO TELEHEALTH AND TO BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT SOME OF THE ABORTION MEDICATION TO PLACES THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHEN HE WAS CAMPAIGNING DURING THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE, WAS SAYING HE SEES THIS COUNTRY-- HE THINKS THAT THE COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE A STATE'S RIGHTS APPROACH TO ABORTION.

NOW THAT HE'S PRESIDENT, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT APPROACH IS GOING SO FAR?

IS IT WORKING?

WELL, AS I SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN STATES WHERE YOU'RE PROTECTED, IT'S WORKING FINE, BUT IN STATES THAT ARE NOT PROTECTED, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC.

I HEARD SO MANY FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT SAYING I DON'T WANT MY DOUBTER TO GO TO COLLEGE THERE.

I THINK THAT IT'S GONNA END UP HAPPENING IS WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN AFTERMATH EFFECT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE FAMILIES NOT WANT TO LIVE IN SOME OF THOSE STATES.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE DOCTORS NOT WANT TO PRACTICE IN SOME OF THOSE STATES.

WE ALREADY HAVE.

SO IT'S JUST GOING TO GET WORSE IF THE ATTITUDES DON'T CHANGE.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN VOTERS TAKE ACTION WHERE WE THOUGHT A STATE WAS ANTICHOICE, VOTERS HAVE TAKEN ACTION AND THEY HAVEN'T ALLOWED SOME OF THOSE PROHIBITIONS TO HAPPEN.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THE SAME INJUSTICES.

THEY'RE RISING UP NOW AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO SEE THAT.

FOR NEW YORK, FOR YEARS, THE STATE HAS BEEN PUTTING AND PASSING LAWS TO PUT TOGETHER MORE ABORTION ACCESS AND PROTECTIONS FOR NEW YORKERS AND PATIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TOO.

AND THEN IN RECENT WEEKS, THE GOVERNOR PASSED A LAW THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER OR GIVE THE OPTION FOR DOCTORS TO NOW PUT THEIR NAME ON ABORTION PILL PRESCRIPTION LABELS.

RIGHT.

HOW WILL YOUR EFFORTS BUILD ON THAT WORK?

SO I HAVE TWO BILLS.

PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ONE RELATES TO HOW WE DISPENSE ABORTION MEDICATION IN NEW YORK.

AND IT WOULD MAKE IT MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR OWN RESIDENTS AND OUR OWN YOUNG PEOPLE, WOMEN, BUT IT WOULD ALSO HELP, I THINK, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WASHINGTON STATE'S ALREADY DONE THIS, WHICH IS TO ALLOW A NON-PATIENT-SPECIFIC SCRIPT TO BE WRITTEN.

I'M GOING TO SAY WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.

BUT A NON-PATIENT-SPECIFIC SCRIPT TO BE WRITTEN SO THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PRESENT AT A PHARMACY.

IF YOU'RE PREGNANT AND YOU WANT TO TERMINATE YOUR PREGNANCY, AND YOU CAN OBTAIN THE ABORTION MEDICATION.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, FIRST, LET ME STEP BACK.

IN INDIA AND MEXICO, YOU WANT TO GET AN ABORTION MEDICATION, ALL YOU DO IS GO TO THE DRUG STORE AND IT'S RIGHT ON THE SHELF.

SO-- AND WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY CONTRA INDICATIONS AND DOCTORS TELL US AND TELL THOSE WHO THEY'RE PRESCRIBING IT TO, IF YOU HAVE A HEALTH ISSUE, BLEEDING EXCESSIVELY OR SOME OTHER ASPECT, WHICH IS VERY SMALL CASES, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU TAKE THE MEDICATION IN FRONT OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR IN FRONT OF ANOTHER PRESCRIBER, BECAUSE MORE THAN DOCTORS CAN PRESCRIBE MEDICATION OR PRESCRIBE ABORTION MEDICATION.

WHAT THIS SCRIPT WOULD DO IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE JUST RECENTLY WITH BIRTH CONTROL IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION OF HEALTH OR ANOTHER PRESCRIBER OR ANY PHYSICIAN OR PRE-PRESCRIBER THAT WRITES A SCRIPT THAT GOES TO A CERTAIN PHARMACY AND SAYS, OKAY, ANY PERSON STEPPING IN HERE THAT YOU BELIEVE NEEDS OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SCRIPT SO THAT ME, THE PHYSICIAN, TO YOU, THE PATIENT, DOESN'T HAVE TO WRITE IT DIRECTLY.

IT'S ME, THE PRESCRIBER, WRITING IT FOR MULTIPLE PATIENTS AND SENDING IT TO A PHARMACY.

SO THAT MULTIPLE PATIENTS CAN COME IN OR MULTIPLE CLIENTS OR, YOU KNOW, CONSTITUENTS, RESIDENTS COULD COME IN AND OBTAIN THE ABORTION MEDICATION AND YOU KNOW, I CAN OBTAIN IT FOR MY DAUGHTERS.

YOU COULD OBTAIN IT FOR YOUR FRIENDS, AND THEREFORE, IT'S MORE ANONYMOUS.

AND WE COULD ALSO, FRANKLY, SEND IT.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN FACING SO FAR TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE?

ORIGINALLY WHEN I INTRODUCED THE BILL, WE HAD THE PROBLEM THAT THERE WERE FORMS AND APPLICATIONS THAT PHARMACIES HAD TO FILL OUT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DISPENSE, YOU KNOW TO HAVE IT IN STOCK, TO BE ABLE TO DISPENSE THOSE MEDICATIONS.

BUT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.

NOW WE HAVE BIG CHAINS HAVING THAT AVAILABLE.

THAT WAS A BIG HURDLE WE HAD TO GET OVER.

AS SOON AS WE GOT OVER THAT HURDLE, WE KNEW WE COULD DO THIS BILL.

WHAT I'M REALLY HOPING BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME THREATS, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE BACK THE AVAILABILITY OF THE MEDICATION TO THE PHARMACIES, THEMSELVES.

IF THAT HAPPENS, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

BUT IF IT STAYS THE WAY IT IS NOW, WE COULD DO THIS BILL AND WE COULD MAKE ABORTION MEDICATION MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE.

IN FACT, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE PATIENTS WOULD THEN-- THE NEW YORKERS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY GETTING THE MEDICATION FOR THEMSELVES WOULD HAVE A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, THE PHARMACIST, VERY AVAILABLE.

YOU KNOW, PHARMACIES ARE, YOU KNOW, USUALLY, THEY'RE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, RIGHT, VERSUS TRYING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PHYSICIAN OR GETTING ACCESS TO THE SAME PHYSICIAN YOU HAD A TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT WITH.

SO IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE AVAILABLE AND EVEN MORE PROTECTED FOR THE WOMAN, WHO'S NEEDING THAT PROCEDURE.

SO I THINK IT'S-- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF ADVOCATES WHO ARE NOW FOR IT.

WE'RE MAKING MOMENTUM AND I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO EVEN HELP PROTECT DOCTORS, LIKE A DR. CARPER IT.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY DOCTORS, ACTUALLY, DOING THIS WORK, AND SO WE WANT TO PROTECT THEM.

RIGHT NOW, DR. CARPENTER HAD TO OBTAIN THE MEDICATION HERSELF AND MAIL IT.

THIS WOULD ALLOW THE RELATIVE, YOU KNOW, OR THE FRIEND OR, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO-- LOUISIANA'S NOT GOING TO START EXTRICATING ALL OF NEW YORKERS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WAIT.

THEY'RE ALL DISPENSING ABORTION MEDICATION.

WE BETTER-- YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CRIMINALIZE OR WE'RE GOING TO ACCUSE EVERYONE IN NEW YORK CITY FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS ACT.

SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THIS WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE RED STATES, THOSE ANTIABORTION STATES TO DO ANY KIND OF NEGATIVITY TOWARD OUR RESIDENTS.

SO THIS BILL, IN MY MIND, FALLS UNDER A CATEGORY OF SHIELD LAWS THAT NEW YORK CITY HAS ABOUT ABORTION ACCESS.

CAN YOU JUST WALK THROUGH FOR OUR AUDIENCE WHAT SHIELD LAWS ARE?

WHAT THE CURRENT SUITE OF LAWS ARE IN NEW YORK RELATED TO THAT?

WELL, ASIDE FROM THE ONE THAT WE JUST DID, RIGHT, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SHIELD LAW, IT'S SHIELDING, RIGHT, ANYONE FROM THE POTENTIAL OF LITIGATION OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SHIELDING, YOU KNOW, OR WE'RE-- YOU KNOW, SHIELD IS THE RIGHT WORD.

YOU KNOW, OR WE'RE PROTECTING.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S ANOTHER SYNONYM, RIGHT, WE'RE PROTECTING.

SO WE HAVE A-- QUITE A LOT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PROTECTIONS, IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO A CLINIC, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T-- YOU KNOW, WE PROTECT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, FROM HARM, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO ENTER A CLINIC FOR AN ABORTION.

WE PROTECT DOCTORS, YOU KNOW, WITH-- YOU KNOW, WITH THE LABELING, BUT WE ALSO PROTECT DOCTORS THROUGH PHONEBOOK, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE PHONEBOOKS ANYMORE.

[LAUGHTER] WE PROTECT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, AND WE DO THEM ACROSS A LOT OF PLACES.

LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A VERY COMMON OTHER EXAMPLE, WHERE WE SAY, OKAY, WE WANT TO SHIELD THEM FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM BEING ABLE TO BE FOUND BY THEIR PERSECUTORS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO.

I CALL ON ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING TO THIS, IF YOU HAVE ANY GREAT IDEA, YOU KNOW TO HELP US THINK OF NEW WAYS TO BE ABLE TO HELP PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN-- YOU KNOW, IN THE TRENCHES DOING THIS IMPORTANT WORK FOR WOMEN.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH ME.

THANK YOU.

AND WE'RE SPEAKING WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER AMY PAULIN.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.