GOP mayoral candidate Joe Lhota called Republicans an embarrassment for shutting down the federal government over Obamacare — but agreed with them that the national health care program should be delayed a year.
“I think there’s so much confusion about the individual mandate right now both within the administration and outside of the administration,” Lhota said on WNYC radio
“Again, you should not be implementing policy unless you know exactly how it’s going to be implemented. Look, it’s a complex law. The unfortunate part of it is these same people who in Washington or members of the House, members of the Senate, didn’t even read the bill. Didn’t even understand how complex it was. Even the executive side, the executive branch of government had no idea how complex it was.”
Lhota noted that in New York City, residents can walk into any municipal hospital and get treated for free if they show they have no income.
“We should take that program and cherish it and embellish it,” he said, calling the current system “excellent healthcare.”
Lhota also said he would reduce the municipal workforce through attrition by as much as 20 percent.
“I’m not talking about firing anybody. I don’t want to lay off anybody off. But every two that retire can we get by with one? That is real savings,” Lhota said.
He ripped Bloomberg’s administration for growing the budget, saying there had been “no concept of keeping the government efficient” during the mayor’s three terms.
“The current mayor loves to bring in all these consultants … pays them a fortune and then and nothing happens,” Lhota said.
Lhota also suggested he wanted to make wholesale changes to rent regulations after holding hearings, but said he would keep the system “as is” for the time being.
Democratic rival Bill de Blasio said Lhota’s position puts him in the same position as “the GOP fringe.”
“Joe Lhota’s positions might help him with the Tea Party, but they are wrong for New York,” de Blasio added.