Has the state Senate just handed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Suozzi a gift?

GOP senators yesterday put forth a sweeping proposal to fight Medicaid fraud - a key issue Suozzi is hoping will help him gain ground on Democratic frontrunner Eliot Spitzer, the attorney general.

According to this announcement by the Senate Republicans backing the legislation:

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, Deputy Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos and members of the Senate Republican Conference today unveiled the toughest, most comprehensive plan to combat Medicaid fraud in the United States. The Medicaid Fraud Prevention and Recovery Reform Act of 2006 is a 10-point plan that would fight fraud and abuse at every step of the process, from billing and pre-payment review to investigation, civil recovery and criminal prosecution of Medicaid thieves. The bill was reported out of the Senate Health Committee today and will be acted on by the Senate, in budget legislation and as separate legislation, next week.

That turns the spotlight directly on Senate Minority Leader David Paterson - Spitzer's running mate. If Paterson votes against the bill, it may give Suozzi additional ammunition to use in bombarding his opponent. If Paterson votes for the bill, he risks alienating core, liberal Democrats who have traditionally opposed any changes to the state's Medicaid program. The bill provides language that may make the Spitzer-Paterson team uncomfortable:

The Senate anti-Medicaid fraud plan includes: > Creating a new, independent, Office of Medicaid Inspector General by consolidating responsibilities and staff from eight agencies into one new office within the Department of Health; > Referring fraud cases to local district attorneys if a case is refused by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Attorney General's office;

(Emphasis added.)

Suozzi and others, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Weld, have specifically criticized Spitzer for not doing enough to battle Medicaid fraud.

It should make for an interesting debate on the Senate floor.