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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 14 May 2019

Maryland gov signs Cries of brutality, scapegoating

1st-in-nation measure in 'I can't breathe' death

to help uninsured By MICHAEL R. SISAK

NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — that would have revived five years after Eric Garner's
Maryland Gov. Larry Ho- the individual mandate in pleas of "I can't breathe"
gan signed a first-in-the- Maryland, but with an inno- became a rallying cry
nation measure Monday to vative twist: the uninsured against police brutality,
make it easier for people would have had a choice a disciplinary trial began
without health insurance of paying a tax penalty or Monday for the New York
to find out if they qualify make a down payment on City police officer accused
for low-cost insurance after health insurance. That pro- of hastening his death
they file their taxes. vision was taken out of the with a banned chokehold.
The new law will create a bill. "We've been continuing The start of Officer Dan-
box for people to check on to look for bipartisan ways iel Pantaleo's internal trial,
state income tax returns. If to get more Marylanders which could lead to his fir-
a taxpayer checks the box, health insurance," Feldman ing, sparked protests in the
the state's health care ex- said. "We've made a lot of streets and evoked emo-
change will see if the per- strides. About six or seven tional reactions from Gar- New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo leaves his house
son qualifies, based on in- years ago, we had about ner's family in the hearing Monday, May 13, 2019, in Staten Island, N.Y.
formation in the tax return. 760,000 people without room as video of the July Associated Press
Those who qualify for Med- health insurance. Now, 2014 confrontation was
icaid will be enrolled auto- we're down to 360,000, and played. amination that Pantaleo's as a "ticking timebomb."
matically. The exchange in light of what's happening The police watchdog arm wasn't around Garner's The police department's
will reach out to people at the federal level — the agency bringing the case neck when he uttered, "I disciplinary process plays
who qualify for private cov- dismantling of the Afford- featured the video promi- can't breathe." out like a trial in front of an
erage. able Care Act, the elimi- nently at the start of the "We know he wasn't administrative judge, but
Hogan, a Republican, nation of the mandate, two-week trial, using the choked out because he is the purpose is to determine
highlighted bipartisan work we're starting to see some cell phone footage of Gar- speaking," London said. whether Pantaleo violated
in the General Assembly, backtracking on that. So, ner being grabbed and The lawyer called it a com- department rules. The final
which is controlled by Dem- we came up with an idea pulled to the ground to mon misconception that decision on any punish-
ocrats, on other health-re- here that's first in the nation shield against alternate ex- the phrase was uttered ment lies with the police
lated measures he signed that you can use the state planations and concerns when the officer's hands commissioner, with penal-
Monday. One of them rais- income tax return to check about the credibility of the or arms were around Gar- ties ranging from the loss of
es the smoking age from 18 a box, and it will immedi- man who recorded it. ner's neck. Garner made vacation days to firing.
to 21 and includes vaping ately opt in." "His last words, 'I can't the plea while lying on the Pantaleo, 33, has been on
in the definition of tobacco Stan Dorn, who is direc- breathe,' tell you who sidewalk as officers were desk duty since Garner's
products. tor of the National Center caused his death," Jona- trying to handcuff him, Lon- death. He denies wrong-
"We are also proud to con- for Coverage Innovation, than Fogel, a lawyer for the don said. doing and does not face
tinue Maryland's record of estimated there are tens watchdog Civilian Com- London said Pantaleo had criminal charges.
leadership on health care of thousands of Maryland plaint Review Board, said in pulled the much larger Two police officials in-
by enacting legislation to residents who do not have an opening statement. Garner to the ground be- volved in an internal af-
further improve access and health insurance who are Pantaleo's lawyer, Stuart cause he feared they fairs investigation into Gar-
lower costs," Hogan said. eligible for low-cost insur- London, countered that would crash through a ner's death testified that
Sen. Brian Feldman, a Dem- ance but don't know it. the video shows the officer plate-glass window while they found Pantaleo likely
ocrat, said the measure is "We haven't begun beat- using an approved tech- tussling against a Staten violated department rules
part of a response to efforts ing the drum, and we've al- nique known as a "seat-belt Island storefront. Garner, and that a request for disci-
at the federal level to over- ready heard from Oregon, hold" to restrain Garner and who was 43, weighed 350 plinary charges was made
turn the Affordable Care New Mexico and Virginia," that he is being made to pounds (159 kilograms) in January 2015.
Act, including the end of Dorn said. "I'm expecting be a scapegoat in a politi- and suffered from asthma The police department put
the mandate requiring we're going to hear from cally charged atmosphere. since childhood. the disciplinary matter on
people to have insurance state capitals all around Ramsey Orta, a friend of "Mr. Garner died from be- hold while federal prosecu-
or else pay a tax penalty. the country, interested in Garner's who shot the vid- ing morbidly obese," Lon- tors weighed a possible
The Maryland measure ini- following up with what's eo of the confrontation, don said in his opening civil rights case against
tially included a provision happened here."q conceded during cross-ex- statement, describing him Pantaleo.q