May 15, 2025
Advocates for the Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York are beginning to see progress after years of lobbying. The Assembly passed the bill last month, shifting attention to the Senate, where support among Democrats has steadily increased. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins stated she would bring the bill to a floor vote once enough Democratic support is secured, noting that 25 senators currently sponsor the measure—seven short of the 32 needed for passage. While some Democrats are privately supportive, they are hesitant to become public sponsors. Senate Republicans have yet to take a position, but Democratic leadership is unlikely to allow the GOP to cast decisive votes.
Opposition remains strong, particularly from groups like the New York State Catholic Conference and the Conservative Party. Dennis Poust, executive director of the Catholic Conference, emphasized the close Assembly vote revealed divisions within the Democratic party. He highlighted that prominent Democratic lawmakers of color—such as Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn—voted against the bill. These lawmakers have voiced concerns that existing health inequities could lead vulnerable communities, particularly communities of color, to be disproportionately affected if the bill becomes law.
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SOURCE: Politico