New York State Senate and Senate lawmakers struck a deal on Tuesday to remove Governor Andrew Cuomo from his pandemic emergency powers and return issues such as blockages to local control.
The agreement would reverse the emergency powers granted to Cuomo exactly a year ago, in the early days of the COVID pandemic, which gave him free rein to order measures such as quarantines.
“I think everyone understands where we were in March and where we are now. We certainly see the need for a quick response, but we also want to move towards a system of greater oversight and review. The public deserves checks and balances. Our proposal would create a system with a greater contribution and, at the same time, ensure that New Yorkers remain protected, ”said Senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in a statement.
Assembly member Carrie Woerner tweeted the outlines of the widely publicized agreement on Tuesday afternoon, saying that:
- “revoke the extraordinary powers granted to the governor last year”
- “predict an orderly transition until the end of the disaster period”
- “Limit any modifications to the guidelines to what is necessary to reduce the spread or increase vaccinations”
- “Restores the right of counties and municipalities to issue executive orders without seeking state approval”
- “Require the governor to provide online reports on all executive orders, providing transparency for everyone”
Woerner said he understood that a bill would be passed as early as Friday.
While the agreement leaves Cuomo with the authority to extend some existing measures, he will still have to notify several legislative leaders and accept public comments for or against his actions. Lawmakers will also have the power to revoke a government declaration of a state of emergency.
Queens State Sen. John Liu said the deal has less to do with retribution for the growing scandals the governor is facing, and more with restoring the balance of power in Albany between branches of government.
The changes come amid growing calls for Cuomo to step down as he faces three escalating scandals – accusations of sexual harassment by at least three young women, accusations of verbal abuse by lawmakers and accusations of mismanagement in treating the pandemic in homes of elderly people.
His administration now faces an independent investigation into sexual harassment issues overseen by the state attorney general’s office, as well as a federal investigation into the problems of the nursing home.
Last year, executive orders allowed Cuomo to govern the state with little resistance, either by closing schools, forcing people to work from home, restricting traffic or interrupting (and restarting and stopping again and restarting again) meals indoors.
But as their problems deepened, so did calls for the legislature to regain some control, removing the emergency authority.
“One year after the pandemic began, and as New Yorkers receive the vaccine, the temporary emergency powers have fulfilled their purpose – it’s time to be revoked,” said Assembly President Carl Heastie. “These temporary emergency powers were granted when New York was devastated by a virus about which we knew nothing. Now it is time for our government to return to normal order. “