NY State Legislature to Vote on Friday on Whether to Revoke Gov. Cuomo's Emergency Powers

By Yehudit Garmaise

   In a stunning fall from grace and loss of might, Gov. Cuomo's emergency powers, which were set to expire on April 30, are expected to be revoked by legislators from New York’s Assembly and Senate in a vote on Friday, reported Channel 4, NBC-NY

   The legislature’s deal to reverse powers that gave the governor considerable liberties to issue restrictions comes amidst multiple scandals, such as the cover-up in which the governor’s administration under-reported by 50% the COVID-related nursing home deaths, the threatening and bullying of Assemblyman Ron Kim, and harassment allegations reported by at least three women.

   In addition, both Democrats and Republicans are calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to be prosecuted, to be impeached, or to resign after the revelations of his indiscretions.

   Since March 2020, when the New York Legislature first issued Gov. Cuomo his emergency powers to manage the COVID pandemic, the governor has issued 94 executive orders, although, if a majority of legislators vote revoke those powers, the governor will not authorized to issue any new statewide directives, such as shutdowns.

   The deal struck today by New York legislators will “require the governor to provide online reporting on all executive orders, providing transparency for all,” Assemblymember Carrie Woerner told Channel 4.

   In addition, New York counties and municipalities once again will be able to exert local control over what is open and what is closed.

   The removal of the governor’s executive powers, however, will not apply to previously issued directives, such as those that determine when and how much to increase indoor dining capacities, which can be renewed and modified by the governor.

     The New York State Assembly first considered rescinding the governor’s emergency powers three weeks ago, after Melissa DeRosa, the governor’s secretary, admitted that the administration had hidden the accurate number of the COVID-related nursing home deaths, which state Democrats had been requesting, unsuccessfully, since March 1, 2020.

     In February, DeRosa told lawmakers that Gov. Cuomo did not provide accurate nursing home data because the administration was   simultaneously being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice.

   “We froze,” DeRosa said, and kept the nursing home data secret for five more months, the New York Post reported.

     DeRosa’s admission of the administration’s guilt was particularly incriminating, as “Melissa is very fiercely loyal and protective of the governor,” the New York Post reported was said by a source who has frequent contact with both the governor and his secretary.

 (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)