20 THE QUEENS COURIER • AUGUST 17, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Queens’ Korean community hopes Trump-
North Korea feud won’t go nuclear
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
Back away from the microphone and let
the diplomats do the talking.
Th at was the message Queens lawmakers
and representatives of the borough’s
Korean community publicly sent
to President Donald Trump and North
Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un at a Aug.
10 press conference in Flushing denouncing
the escalating rhetoric between both
leaders.
Assemblyman Ron Kim and
Congresswoman Grace Meng led the
event outside of Flushing Town Hall in
which they urged the Trump administration
to use diplomatic measures rather
than threatening, as Trump did on Aug.
8, to unleash “fi re and fury” on North
Korea should the communist country —
which is rapidly developing ballistic missiles
that could deliver a nuclear weapon
across the Pacifi c — launch an attack
on the U.S.
North Korea then threatened to attack
the U.S. territory of Guam, prompting
Trump on Aug. 10 to publicly wonder if
he wasn’t “tough enough” with his earlier
remarks.
Kim and Meng, however, believe the
president has said too much — and the
time had come to stop the potentially
radioactive saber-rattling.
“North Korea is a rogue regime whose
threats and rhetoric continue to be explosive
and outrageous. President Trump’s
infl ammatory language only further escalates
tensions on the Korean peninsula,
and does nothing to stabilize the region,”
Meng said. “His comments are irresponsible
and potentially endangers the lives
of South Korean citizens and U.S. personnel
stationed in South Korea. We will
always defend our country and our friend
and ally South Korea should Kim Jong
Un make good on his threats. Dialogue
and diplomacy, not bombastic language
or saber rattling, must be the way forward
for achieving a peaceful resolution.”
Assemblyman Kim noted that the president’s
choice of words, as with any other
public offi cial, are critical — and “can
have enormous and oft en unforeseen
consequences.” He expressed hope that a
diplomatic solution could be found based
on a recent meeting he had with 24 North
Korean refugees at the State Capitol.
Th e assemblyman believes the people of
North Korea desire freedom and a better
life, and de-escalating the nuclear rhetoric
would go a long way to helping them
achieve both. Total war would the lives of
millions on the Korean peninsula at risk.
“Th is president’s recent threats and
careless rhetoric have put the lives of millions
of people at risk,” Assemblyman Kim
added. “Countless Korean Americans,
including myself, have relatives or family
members who live in the Korean peninsula,
and who are now in greater danger as a
result of his statements.”
Suozzi touts bipartisan plan to ‘amend, not end’ Obamacare
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Northeast Queens’ voice on Capitol Hill
is part of a bipartisan group presenting a
new health care proposal.
Congressman Tom Suozzi, who represents
sections of Whitestone, Bayside,
Douglaston, Little Neck and Long Island,
is the vice chair of the Problem Solvers
Caucus — a bipartisan group of lawmakers
on Capitol Hill. Shortly aft er the
U.S. Senate’s decision not to repeal the
Aff ordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,”
without a replacement on July 27, the
caucus, made up of 22 Democrats and
22 Republicans, proposed a plan of their
own.
In a conference call with reporters on
Aug. 14, Suozzi outlined the bipartisan
proposal, which puts stabilizing the individual
market and reducing premiums at
the forefront, he said. In an “amend, don’t
end” approach, the plan would make certain
changes without dissembling its basic
foundations.
Among its fi ve main policies, the group
is proposing measures to reduce out-ofpockets
costs related to deductibles and
co-pays. Th ey also propose a dedicated
fund intended to be used to stabilize premiums
and limit insurers’ losses for providing
coverage.
In a move to appease its Republican
members, the group also agreed to propose
the repeal of the medical device
tax, which adds a 2.3 percent sales tax on
medical device supplies. Th ey also propose
to change the employer mandate
for businesses to provide health insurance
to its employees to businesses with
more than 500 employees, rather than
50. Suozzi said he has spoken to experts
who “don’t think the employer mandate
change will have that much of an impact
on the marketplace.”
Th ey also propose to “provide technical
changes and clear guidelines” regarding
state regulations, allowing insurers to
sell across state lines or regionally to “create
more options for consumers.”
“Th is is not the end; this is only the
beginning,” Suozzi said of the ongoing
conversation surrounding healthcare.
“Th ere are problems with the ACA,
everybody knows that ... But this is a very
important step.”
Coverage for pre-existing conditions,
for children under a parent’s plan until
age 26 and mental health services under
the ACA would be retained, the congressman
said.
“Th ese essential health benefi ts will
continue to be required,” Suozzi said.
“Th e public is sick of politicians,” the
lawmaker closed. “Th ey just want us to
get something done ... Th at’s what the
public demands.”
File photo
Congressman Tom Suozzi
Photo courtesy of Assemblyman Ron Kim
Assemblyman Ron Kim and Congresswoman Grace Meng denounced on Aug. 10 the escalating tensions between President Donald Trump and North
Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.