New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently vetoed the Grieving Families Act for the fourth time, expressing strong criticism towards those advocating for the legislation during an unrelated event on Monday. Hochul remarked, “Don’t pass the same bill four times if you want a different result,” highlighting the lack of changes made to the proposal since its last approval.
Sources indicated that Hochul’s veto was anticipated due to the absence of three-way negotiations, a strategy that could have paved the way for a compromise. The governor pointed out that her prior recommendations aimed at narrowing the bill’s scope were ignored, leading to her decision. “It shouldn’t have come as a surprise,” she stated in her veto memo.
While acknowledging the struggles faced by those affected by wrongful death cases, Hochul reaffirmed the need for discussions surrounding the bill. She emphasized the challenge of balancing advocacy for families with the realities of New York’s economy, particularly with some of the highest insurance rates in the country. The governor previously suggested a significant narrowing of the bill’s provisions, but lawmakers did not accept this proposal.
Advocates for the grieving families expressed their disappointment over the veto. Andrew Finkelstein, president of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, criticized Hochul for appearing to favor insurance companies over families suffering loss. He stressed the need for an accountability system, which, according to him, is currently lacking compared to other states.
State Senate sponsor Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal criticized the outdated wrongful death statute from 1847, describing the current law as inequitable. He argued that the veto reflects a preference for a system that values some lives over others, urging the necessity for a more humane and modern wrongful death law capable of delivering justice to grieving families.
The ongoing discussion reflects a complex interplay between legislative intent and economic considerations, with hopes that future negotiations may yield a satisfactory resolution for all parties involved.