By WBFO News
Albany, NY – Officials in the Paterson administration say hospital and union lobbyists are misleading the public with television ads criticizing Governor David Paterson's healthcare cuts.
A coalition that includes the state's most powerful healthcare workers union unveiled the ads Monday. They will air on television stations across New York. In one ad, a blind man in a wheel chair asks the Governor "why are you doing this to me?"
Director of State Operations Dennis Whelan say the ads imply that Paterson is cutting health care, when spending will go up by one percent in 2009-2010.
"This is a well worn playbook we're seeing rolled out now," said Whalen. "And it has, as it's core mission, inspiring fear rather than a rational assessment of what the right decision should be. "
But officials of SEIU Local 11-99 argue that the one percent increase in spending is tantamount to a cut. They say there will be more demand for Medicaid assistance as unemployment rises.