Leading Democrats in the state legislature are taking steps to deprive Governor Andrew Cuomo of his pandemic emergency powers – possibly as early as Friday – while the government is involved in dueling scandals over the treatment of deaths in nursing homes and allegations of sexual harassment against the governor.
The agreement on a bill deposing Cuomo from power was forged between Majority Leading State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) and Assembly President Carl Heastie (D-The Bronx). Once approved by both houses of the legislature, he would immediately revoke the powers granted to Cuomo last March to largely control the state’s response to the coronavirus, currently set for sunset on April 30.
That vote could take place as early as Friday.
The legislation would also prevent Cuomo from creating new emergency directives without the approval of legislative leaders and chairmen of relevant committees and would only allow the extension of existing directives if they were directly linked to the management of the pandemic.
The deal would allow some of the existing guidelines to continue, such as ordering a mask across the state.
“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 be to create a system with a greater contribution and, at the same time, to ensure that New Yorkers remain protected, ”said Stewart-Cousins in a statement.
“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 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. “
Lawmakers have been lobbying the leadership to remove the governor’s authority that allows him to usurp control over the pandemic response in all local jurisdictions across the state in recent weeks, while Cuomo has been engulfed in the dueling scandals.
Its administration is being investigated by the federal government for allegedly withholding data relating to more than 13,000 registered deaths in nursing homes linked to COVID-19, as well as several allegations of sexual harassment, which the state prosecutor’s office is investigating.
The Legislative Bill – which is due to be officially presented this evening – would need at least three days to grow old before the state Senate and Assembly could take a vote in plenary. The early vote can be taken on Friday.
If the measure passes both chambers, it will be handed over to Cuomo to sign or deny. The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.