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Democrats take away Cuomo's emergency powers

Mar 03, 2021 6:33 am
Bernadette Hogan reports for the New York Post that Democrats who control the state legislature agreed March 2 to take away Gov. Andrew Cuomo's emergency powers granted him during the pandemic. Cuomo's emergency powers would have expired April 30, but now may end later this week amid his dueling sexual harassment and nursing home scandals. Lawmakers may vote on the bill crafted by Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie as soon as Friday. The statewide mask mandate and measures implemented to manage the vaccine rollout would last up to 30 days after passage of the bill. After that, Cuomo would need permission from lawmakers and give them an opportunity to comment. “I think everyone understands where we were back in March and where we are now. We certainly see the need for a quick response but also want to move toward a system of increased oversight, and review. The public deserves to have checks and balances. Our proposal would create a system with increased input while at the same time ensuring New Yorkers continue to be protected,” Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican who has ran for governor against Cuomo, said, “This is a hollow political gesture. It is not a substitute for real action, We need a restoration of the balance of power, restoration of local authority and a return to democracy.” Some Republicans called for Cuomo to resign before three women made allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo, and before reports emerged that his staff manipulated data and made poor decisions about COVID-19 cases in nursing homes. Now, though, Cuomo is hearing calls to resign from his left, including from the Democratic Socialists of America, the Working Families Party, and Congressperson Kathleen Rice, a Democrat from Long Island. Most other Democrats have called for independent investigations of Cuomo. The governor has not given one of his online press conferences in a week, as more allegations against Cuomo were revealed. Read more about this story in the New York Post.
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