Local Lawmakers React To Deal To Strip Cuomo’s Powers
by Doug La Rocque
On Tuesday evening, March 2, the Democratic Assembly and Senate leadership struck a deal to revoke a vast majority of the emergency powers they granted to Governor Andrew Cuomo last April, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The office of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie released a statement on Tuesday evening that says in part “at the start of the pandemic last year, the governor was granted emergency powers by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of the state Legislature to help combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of New Yorkers. It was the right thing to do at the time as we were facing a new, scary and unpredictable virus and emergency measures needed to be taken quickly. Now, the time has come to revoke these powers but we also must have a plan in place so we can restore a proper balance in state government and keep people safe.”
What Do Our Representatives Think.
The Eastwick Press reached out to three members of the Assembly that represent readers in our area. Assemblyman John McDonald’s District covers the City of Troy and western portions of the county.
He tells us “last year, when COVID-19 first threw our state into turmoil and so much was unknown and uncertain, an overwhelmingly bipartisan legislative majority granted the governor emergency powers to quickly deal with the sudden crisis. It is clearly now the time to get back to a normal working order.
“That’s why I support legislation that will revoke the governor’s emergency powers. The measure – agreed upon with the Senate – immediately revokes the emergency powers and ensures legislative oversight of changes to state laws or directives. Key legislative committee chairs will be involved and the governor will have to work transparently and collaboratively on efforts to combat the pandemic. This legislation also increases the control and power of local governments.”
Assemblyman Jake Ashby represents most of Rensselaer County, and a portion of northern Columbia County. He tells us “while I am encouraged that the majority is seemingly taking steps to finally place limitations on the Governor, it’s disappointing that they voted down several measures aimed to repeal the Governor’s emergency powers Tuesday. This continues to be the most pressing issue facing our state. I look forward to reading the legislation proposed by the majority.” Assemblyman Ashby is referring to three attempts by the Republican minority to attach what are often labeled as “hostile amendments” to other legislation that would have stripped the Governor of all his emergency powers. Those three amendments were all defeated on a party line basis.
Assemblyman Chris Tague also represents portions of northern Columbia County. After the three votes failed, he said in a press release “today’s failure by my Democratic colleagues to remove the governor’s emergency powers is disgraceful. Those in the Majority today told the people of our state that after lying to us about thousands of people dying, working to cover it up for a year, and allegedly abusing his power to sexually harass multiple women, that they do not feel the governor should face the most minimal consequence possible for his abhorrent actions. I will continue to call on the governor to be removed from office either through resignation or impeachment because he has made it more than clear through his character as a politician and a human being that he is unfit to lead.”
On a county specific basis, Legislative Minority Leader Peter Grimm says “there comes a time when we rely on our state legislators to make the decision on revoking the governor’s emergency powers and that time may be now, but we are still in the midst of a pandemic and important decisions need to be made quickly. If we remove the governor’s emergency powers, our state representatives must have a plan B to address any immediate decisions that must be made.”
Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin tells us “This is both too little and too late, and is really an attempt to distract New Yorkers into believing the downstate Democrats who control the State Legislature are finally getting tough with the Governor. They are not and that is enormously disappointing.” The “deal” created in legislative backrooms really only requires the Governor to take additional steps to exercise the enormous powers already given away to him by state lawmakers.
That step is too little, and allows the Governor to continue with enormously expanded powers as he faces federal investigation and serious abuse allegations. The legislation is too late because Republicans in the State Legislature have offered resolution after resolution to remove these powers and Democrats have refused. They are instead offering a very watered down version. The bill should not be passed or vetoed.
“It is simply wrong for one person to have the enormous powers the Governor now possesses. It is even more wrong given the circumstances he now faces.”
The vote on revoking the governor’s emergency powers is tentatively set for Friday, March 5.