How Carl Heastie knows Kamala Harris; Esposito, Ryan trade barbs in NY-18

And a new bill has been sent to Hochul to sign. Read about it in today's Capitol Count.

Good afternoon — it’s Thursday and National Chop Suey Day.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• Assembly Speaker E. Carl Heastie defended the state’s changes to CDPAP Thursday but said they’ll monitor how they play out.

• Heastie is also apparently close to Vice President Kamala Harris. Read how.

• NY-18: Esposito and Ryan trade barbs over immigration.

• Capitol Count: a new bill for Hochul to sign and how many are left.

🍃 Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Mostly cloudy, high 50s. New York City: Chance of rain, mid-60s. (National Weather Service)

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Assemblyman Phil Steck and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (Dan Clark/Times Union)

❤️‍🩹 Heastie defends CDPAP change but leaves door open

🗣️ Advocates and caregivers have ramped up a public campaign in opposition to the change in hopes of convincing state leaders to reverse it.

I explained in yesterday’s CapCon how Gov. Kathy HOCHUL and Democrats in the state Legislature made a big change to a Medicaid program this year called CDPAP.

• That’s the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program.

I won’t make you read all of that again today, so feel free to check out yesterday’s CapCon if you don’t know what I’m talking about.

But Assembly Speaker Carl E. HEASTIE happened to be in town Thursday for a press event with Assemblyman Phil STECK, so I went to get his thoughts on the situation.

Advocates have said the transition to a single fiscal intermediary could disrupt care. The idea is that, during that transition, people will fall through the cracks.

I asked Heastie if he had any thoughts about that and if there were any talks to try to postpone or adjust the change.