NYSAC Bill S 5512 Passes in NY Senate
June 30, 2010
Dear NYSAC Supporters,
Congratulations to everyone for their hard work. NYSAC Bill S 5512 Passes in NY Senate!
After three years of work we won one. Kudos to Senator Oppenheimer, Senator Nozzolio, David Carroll and all of you who have worked, called, written and contributed these last few yers.
We still need your help as we are stuck in the Assembly.
One of our callers recently posted this message: “I just got off the phone with Assembly Member Glick’s office and the woman answering the phone said: “I have been told to tell you that Assembly Member Glick is closing down the committee for this year. There will be NO movement on this bill.”
This seems to be the case and so I believe that we should stop spending time on phone calls to the Assembly and to Glick’s office today.
I will be sending out several updates concerning short and long term strategy, political contributions, more letter writing and our plans for the next legislative session over the next few weeks. However, I want to make a few brief points.
1. The Assembly Higher Education Committee can reconvene at any time based on the discretion of its Chair. Over the next few weeks we will be making substantial efforts to communicate with Assembly Member Glick at the district level to see what can be done if not for this session, then for 2011. Our ASNY leadership will be focussing on this issue in July.
2. It is very unlikely that the budget problem is going to be solved this week in Albany. That means that there will be more meetings of the Assembly this year and that means that there is still some home for this bill. The hope is small, but it is there.
3. NYSAC will be providing specific suggestions about political giving prior to the coming election and working hard to build our war chest for 2011. We are very close to legislative success, but we need resources to support our process and our legislative sponsors. Please think about contributing the cost of a few patient visits to NYSAC and members of the Senate who supported our work, Suzi Oppenheimer in particular. We need to be sure that Grace Meng is aware of how much we appreciate her efforts. Finally, NYSAC is only the representative of this initiative. We have relied on so much support and effort from ASNY and ATCMS. If you aren’t already a member of ASNY or ATCMS please join.
This is a hard process, done by volunteers against big odds, but every session, every year we get further along. Keep up the good work.
NYSAC Update & More Calls Now!!!
June 27, 2010
Three Phone Calls must be made on Monday, & Tuesday (June 28 & 29)
Since the Tuesday June 22 message, there has been a great deal of forward movement in the Assembly. Your calls have gotten the attention of the Speaker’s office and our lobbyist David Carroll is having productive conversations with Assembly Member Deborah Glick’s staff.
The legislative session will extend into next week, probably through Wednesday. We need two things to happen: 1) Speaker Silver needs to direct his staff to move Assembly Bill A03717A onto the floor and 2) Assembly Member Glick needs to move the Bill out of the Higher Education Committee as well.
The Senate Bill S 5512-A (the Senate look-alike) is ready to move, but the Senate will not act until the Assembly has committed to moving the bill. All our energy needs to be focused on the Assembly.
Our Assembly sponsor Assembly Member Grace Meng is working very hard right now on our behalf. She needs our help. Please make these three calls ASAP.
Three Phone Calls that must be made on Friday, Monday, & Tuesday (June 25, 28, 29)
Making these calls sooner than later is best.
If you have already called these offices find any New York State voter and get them to call. Callers can be friends, parents, patients etc… But calls must be made!!
Please continue to be courteous and friendly. We have been complemented on the quality of the calls. Keep up the good work.
Please make these calls or have someone else make them now.
1) Assembly Member Glick (Chair Higher Education Committee) – 518-455-4841
“My name is _______________. “
“I am calling to ask that Assembly Member Deborah Glick move Assembly Bill A03717A Meng (SAME AS Senate Bill S 5512-A). This bill has been held in the Higher Education Committee for three years. This bill has a positive impact on the profession of acupuncture and patient care.”
If you are in her district say: “I vote in his district and this bill is critical to me.”
If you are Asian or Asian-American say:
“I am a member of the Asian American Community and this bill is important to our community.”
Then Say: “Please ask the Assembly Member Glick to move this bill. Thank you.”
2) Sheldon Silver Speaker of the Assembly – 518-455-3791
And say:
“My name is _______________.
“I am calling to ask that Speaker Silver help move Assembly Bill A03717A Meng (SAME AS Senate Bill S 5512-A). This bill has been held in the Higher Education Committee for three years. This bill has a positive impact on the profession of acupuncture and patient care.”
If you are in his district say: “I vote in his district and this bill is critical to me.”
If you are Asian or Asian-American say:
“I am a member of the Asian American Community and this bill is important to our community.”
Then Say: “Please ask the Speaker to move this bill. Thank you.”
3) Then Call Judy Rapfogel, Senior Staff to Sheldon Silver – 518-455-3791 ask that the message be given to Ms. Rapfogel and say:
“My name is _______________.
“I am calling to ask that Ms. Rapfogel help Speaker Silver help move Assembly Bill A03717A Meng ( SAME AS Senate Bill S 5512-A). This bill has been held in the Higher Education Committee for three years. This bill has a positive impact on the profession of acupuncture and patient care..”
If you are in his district say: “I vote in his district and this bill is critical to me.”
If you are Asian or Asian-American say:
“I am a member of the Asian American Community and this bill is important to our community.”
Then Say: “Please ask the Speaker to move this bill. Thank you.”
NYSAC CRITICAL ACTION NOW
June 22, 2010
We have a make or break option on our herbs bill for this legislative session. After Friday we are either law or pushed off to 2011. If you are in Manhattan or Chinatown, your action is most critical, but everyone needs to call.
For over 3 years, NYSAC and ASNY have been working to get herbs in the legal scope of practice of acupuncturists in New York. But right now, Deborah Glick is holding us up. We need to ask the Speaker’s office to help move the bill. Grace Meng is working very hard right now on our behalf. Please make these two calls ASAP.
Two Phone Calls that must be made on Wednesday, June 23 between 9:00 am and 4:00pm
1) Sheldon Silver, Speaker of the Assembly
Call his Albany Office: 518-455-3791
And say:
“My name is _______________.
“I am calling to ask that Speaker Silver help move Assembly Bill A03717A Meng (SAME AS Senate Bill S 5512-A). This bill has been held in the Higher Education Committee for three years. This bill has a positive impact on the profession of acupuncture and patient care.”
If you are in his district say: “I vote in his district and this bill is critical to me.”
If you need to check on his district boundaries go to this link to check on the map of the 64th Assembly District (Chinatown, lower east side, Staten Island
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=64&sh=map
If you are Asian or Asian-American say:
“I am a member of the Asian American Community and this bill is important to our community.”
Then Say: “Please ask the Speaker to help get this bill to the floor for a vote. Thank you.”
2) Then Call Judy Rapfogel, Senior Staff to Sheldon Silver
Call: 518-455-3791 ask that the message be given to Ms. Rapfogel and say:
“My name is _______________.
“I am calling to ask that Ms. Rapfogel help Speaker Silver help move Assembly Bill A03717A Meng ( SAME AS Senate Bill S 5512-A). This bill has been held in the Higher Education Committee for three years. This bill has a positive impact on the profession of acupuncture and patient care.”
If you are in his district say: “I vote in his district and this bill is critical to me.”
If you are Asian or Asian-American say:
“I am a member of the Asian American Community and this bill is important to our community.”
Then Say: “Please ask the Speaker to help get this bill to the floor for a vote. Thank you.”
URGENT NYSAC ACTION TODAY
June 10, 2010
We now have a “look alike bill” in both the Senate (S.5512A) and the Assembly (A.03717A). Assembly Member Meng has amended her bill as requested. We have recently achieved acceptance of our legislation’s language from the New York State Education Department. This acceptance was based on technical amendments made by Senator Suzi Oppenheimer our Senate Sponsor.
Both bills now need to be placed on the agenda and moved forward out of the higher education committees of both the Senate and the Assembly.
It is urgent that we immediately and courteously call, fax, email and write to
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky
Chair, Committee on Higher Education
Re: Senate S..5512A Oppenheimer & Nozzolio
Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick
Chair, Committee on Higher Education
Assembly A.03717A Meng
Please express your support for these bills and ask them (the Chairs Stavisky and Glick) or their staff to place these bills on the agenda and move them forward so that they can be brought to the floor for a vote.
Time and input is of the essence. Our lobbyist has asked us to call their offices (both Albany and District to express support for these bills and to ask that these bills be moved forward and voted on this session. Stress that we have been working on this legislation for three years, that NYSED has no objection, there is no cost to NY State, and that this benefits and protects patients.
After you call, please email a copy of your letter of support to the office, and then fax an mail a hard copy. Please fax and mail to both Albany and the District Offices.
As before templates are provided and all contact information including phone numbers are below.
Assembly Member Deborah J.. Glick
Chair, Committee on Higher Education
The Honorable Deborah J. Glick
Chair, Committee on Higher Education
New York State Assembly
LOB 717
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-4841
Click here to download this letter
The Honorable Deborah J. Glick
Chair, Committee on Higher Education
New York State Assembly
853 Broadway
Suite 1518
New York, NY 10003
212-674-5153
Click here to download this letter
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky
Chair, Committee on Higher Education
The Honorable Toby Ann Stavisky
New York State Senate
Chair, Committee on Higher Education
509 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Tel: (518) 455-3461
Fax: (518) 426-6857
Click here to download this letter
The Honorable Toby Ann Stavisky
New York State Senate
Chair, Committee on Higher Education
144-36 Willets Point Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11357
Tel: (718) 445-0004
Fax: (718) 445-8398
Email address: stavisky@senate.state.ny.us
