The family of former Hudson Valley Congressman Maurice Hinchey announced Tuesday that the 78-year-old Democrat is suffering from a rare, terminal neurological disorder. WAMC’s Allison Dunne reports Hinchey’s family is speaking out amid fierce debate over health care in Washington.
The disorder is Frontotemporal Degeneration and the diagnosis came after Hinchey’s successful battle with colon cancer in 2011. Hinchey’s family says the disease has limited the once-eloquent congressman's language skills and affected his walking, balance and muscles. The family is calling for more research funding and awareness of the disorder. Since leaving Congress after 10 terms in 2012, Hinchey appeared in Kingston in 2013 to urge New York Governor Andrew Coumo to ban fracking.
“And I trust that he will make a decision that will put an end to fracking in New York state,” said Hinchey.
Cuomo announced a fracking ban in December 2014.
