Editor's Note: What follows is user-generated news from the campaign of state Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson. If you would like to post your news to Patch, click here.
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The Chairwoman of the Yorktown Republican Committee has revealed that "Wacky" Wagner is once again saying one thing to the voters, while accepting money to do the opposite.
Wagner has accepted $39,467 in campaign contributions from his employers, a New York City law firm that successfully lobbied to defeat national Equal Pay Legislation and defended Bank of America against charges of gender-based pay discrimination.
“Women and voters in this Senate District need to know that the same corporate attorneys putting thousands of dollars in "Wacky" Wagner’s campaign chest have lobbied Washington against closing the pay gap while defending big corporate clients against gender-based pay discrimination employee. How can someone say they support pay equality yet accept $39,467 in campaign contributions from a firm that has successfully lobbied to defeat national Equal Pay legislation and defended the Bank of America against charges of gender-based pay discrimination?” said Serafina Mastro, Chairwoman of the Yorktown Republican Committee and a small business owner in Yorktown.
Tuesday, Senator Ball again urged Equal Pay to be brought to a vote during a special session of the New York State legislature.
“The numbers don’t lie. This is not about politics. It’s about doing the right thing,” Senator Ball said.
“There is no reason why anyone should receive less pay for equal work, but that’s exactly what’s happening throughout New York State, with women from minority backgrounds receiving as little as 52 cents on the dollar. This is an undeniable problem, but we have the ability to fix it,” Senator Ball added.
While a member of the Assembly, Senator Ball voted yes on the New York State Fair Pay Act five times, including A3911-2010, A6712-2010, A3911-2009, A6712-2009, and A7407-2008, and is now the author and sponsor in the Senate on equal pay legislation, S7057.
“Senator Ball, a leader on equal pay, again urged Equal Pay to be brought to a vote during a special session of the New York State legislature, just yesterday. A day after Senator Greg Ball's most recent efforts to end gender-based pay discrimination, "Wacky" Wagner is now playing political catch up by saying he supports the same. This is a weak attempt to cover up the bombshell news that his firm, made up of corporate attorneys putting nearly $40 thousand in "Wacky" Wagner’s campaign chest have lobbied Washington against closing the pay gap while defending big corporate clients against gender-based pay discrimination,” Jim Coleman said.
Coleman also stated that, "Wacky Wagner is not free to play by his own facts when it comes to Senator Ball’s record and accomplishments on women’s issues. While a member of the Assembly, Senator Ball voted yes on the New York State Fair Pay Act five times, including A3911-2010, A6712-2010, A3911-2009, A6712-2009, and A7407-2008, and is now the author and sponsor in the Senate on equal pay legislation, S7057."
For Senator Ball’s bi-partisan efforts on women’s issues, including pay equality, he has received the support and endorsement of former democratic Mount Kisco Mayor, Patricia Reilly, who has also agreed to be the Honorary Chairwoman of the Women4Ball, and Democrats4Ball campaigns.
“For what he has accomplished and for what he plans to accomplish in the Senate for Women and everyone in our community, he has my full support. Senator Ball has worked in bi-partisan manner and he has proven that he can work well with everyone in the Senate no matter what party affiliation,” Mayor Reilly said.
Along with Senator Ball’s landmark Equal Pay for Equal Work legislation, Senator Ball delivered many other legislative accomplishments including the Domestic Violence Shelter Extender (S6308), which extends the length of stay for residents of domestic violence shelters up to 180 days, an increase of 45 days over the current regulation.
Senator Ball delivered many other legislative accomplishments including the following:
● Sponsored and passed “Hannah’s Law” (S5034A) for Yorktown resident Hannah Devane, which requires insurance companies to provide lifesaving medication for eosinophilic esophagitis.
● Sponsored and passed (S3955) Eliminates the registration fee for Gold Star Mother’s and Gold Star Family Members distinctive license plates.
● Sponsored and passed (S5104) Provides for a crime of non-support of a child where a parent voluntarily reduces or terminates employment or fails to seek employment.
● Sponsored and passed (S6090A) Restricts the right of an offender to use a computer in prison or access to the internet if such offender has been convicted of certain sex offenses and used a computer.
● Co-sponsored and passed (S1883A) Requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive ultrasound screening and magnetic resonance imaging for breast cancer in certain cases.
● Co-sponsored and passed (S1538A) Provides for transfer of guardianship and custody of infants abandoned pursuant to the abandoned infant protection act.
● Co-sponsored and passed (S3228) Relates to the issuance of military deployment as a factor in the awarding of custody in marital actions.
● Co-sponsored and passed (S6769B) Relates to the duties of providers of mammography services to notify and inform patients if a mammogram demonstrates dense breast tissue.
● Co-sponsored and passed (S7745) Establishes protections to prevent surprise medical bills.
● Co-sponsored and passed (S7638) – legislation that will protect victims of domestic violence and establish stronger criminal penalties to punish individuals who commit acts of domestic violence.
