Valatie, NY – In an editorial board meeting featuring Antonio Delgado and John Faso hosted by the Poughkeepsie Journal, Antonio Delgado twice repeated his verifiably false claim about an ‘age tax’ on seniors in New York.

Faso: “The bill had no such thing as an age tax in it.”
Delgado: “It did.” (Poughkeepsie Journal, 10/8/18, 28:05)

Faso: “His ad has been called false by independent fact checkers.”
Delgado: “Incorrect.” (Poughkeepsie Journal, 10/8/18, 28:05)

“Antonio Delgado’s ad was fact checked by an independent fact checker who said his ad glossed over details and ignored critical facts,” said Joe Gierut, communications director for the Faso campaign. “He was given an opportunity to recant his fib, but instead doubled down on it. This ad was singularly meant to scare Upstate seniors, and continuing to use the debunked attack brings into question Antonio Delgado’s integrity and dedication to faithfully representing Upstate New York truthfully.”

Background
Delgado’s ‘age tax’ attack was debunked by Politifact New York as ‘mostly false’ as it ‘glosses over details and ignores critical facts.’ (Politifact New York, 10/03/18)

• “However, the provision didn’t apply to those on Medicare, or people over the age of 50 with coverage through large employers. Also, it wouldn’t have affected New York seniors, as the state has prohibited insurers from charging higher rates based on age since the early 1990s. The claim contains elements of truth but glosses over details and ignores critical facts. We rate it Mostly False.” (Politifact New York, 10/03/18)

Additionally, the ‘age tax’ attack was initially debunked in an article by the Empire Center, and then acknowledged as misleading by the Delgado campaign.

• “Delgado’s spokeswoman, Melissa Toufanian, said two things in response. One was that Delgado was referring to a federal bill with national consequences, even though the altered age rating wouldn’t have applied to New York.” (Times Herald Record, 09/22/18)
• “In New York, however, this ACA rule had no effect, because the state had previously banned age rating completely in the early 1990s.” (Empire Center, 09/05/2018)
• “In the context of New York’s insurance market, the PAC’s one-size-fits-all message turns the facts upside-down.”(Empire Center, 09/05/2018)