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By Jesse Russell

The battle between New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and the union representing health care workers as well as a major hospital trade group inflamed last week. Spitzer has proposed $1.2 billion in Medicaid cuts and has asked the Service Employees International Union 1199 and the Greater New York Hospital Association to step up and absorb some of the costs. 1199 has found an ally in its ad campaign. Rev. Al Sharpton, who in the past has supported Spitzer, recorded an ad that criticizes the decision:

[Sharpton]: 7 seconds from commercial

Spitzer said in an email to supporters that the cuts are “critical, because it finally breaks the long cycle of insider deals and special favors in the state Capitol.”