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Albany,NY - A host of progressive groups led by Citizen Action of New York are urging Congress to resist changing key provisions in President Obama's economic stimulus package. They fear the plan might be stripped of benefits for many New Yorkers by lobbyists representing business interests. The group's policy director, Bob Cohen, is calling on Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to guard the economic stimulus package from anyone who might weaken it.
"A stimulus for the rest of us means putting average working families first; it means money for education, health care and the basic services New Yorkers need."
Cohen believes the economic rescue plan is vulnerable to efforts at shaping it to benefit some corporations, as it moves on to the Senate and then into a conference committee, before reaching the president’s desk. He says banks and financial corporations have already gotten their bailout.
"We’re motivated to act today because of our need to get Sen. Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand to address the needs of average working families as it goes through the process."
Citizen Action is also calling on Governor David Paterson to reconsider recent statements suggesting he might not back certain tax increases if New York gets significant aid under the stimulus package.
Opponents of the stimulus package say it's too expensive and it might spur inflation.
