The following press release is from Richard Dziekan’s campaign:
Richard Dziekan, the Republican candidate for mayor of Derby, called on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy this week to reverse devastating budget cuts to Connecticut’s hospitals.
The cuts announced last week by the Malloy administration will reduce Medicaid payments to hospitals by $63.4 million and will cause an additional loss to hospitals of $128 million in matching federal dollars.
“Griffin Hospital is the primary health care provider to the people of Derby and one of the largest employers of city residents. These cuts will hurt the most vulnerable among us and will affect every aspect of our economy,” Dziekan said. ​“I hope the governor will reconsider his decision and engage in bipartisan talks to reach a better solution.”
Dziekan also questioned the silence from City Hall on this topic, suggesting that Mayor Dugatto has failed to criticize the cuts for fear of offending her party leadership.
“The mayor has a duty to act in the best interest of the City of Derby and the constituents she is elected to serve,” Dziekan said. ​“I understand she doesn’t have a vote to cast on this topic but it is certainly within her power, as Derby’s CEO, to apply pressure on the governor when he has acted in a way that will cause such serious and long-lasting damage to our city. As if the state-wide 1.5 billion dollar increase wasn’t enough (one that the mayor stands behind) to now stand idly by and accept serious cuts to our biggest employer putting the livelihood of working families is unconscionable.
At a press conference Tuesday Republican state legislators joined with hospital CEOs from across the state to condemn the cuts and call for the governor to reconsider his decision.
Among those in attendance was Patrick Charmel, CEO of Griffin Hospital. The hospital CEOs explained the cuts would lead to layoffs, a lower standard of care and decreased level of service.
