New York Republicans held a conference about introducing a resolution to impeach NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week. (Submitted photo)

ALBANY – Assemblyman Joseph Angelino (R,C,I-Norwich) voted against legislation (A.5967) crafted by the Legislature’s downstate liberal leadership which does not strip the governor of the extraordinary emergency powers granted to him in 2020. The governor’s powers were slated to expire on April 30, but the bill removed the sunset clause which can allow Cuomo to hold these powers until when he deems the pandemic to be over.

 

“I cannot for the life of me understand how downstate liberal leaders concluded that after the Cuomo administration’s active role in covering up the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents and multiple allegations of sexual harassment that the governor deserves an extension on the overly gracious emergency powers he was given last year,” said Angelino. “Those who cut this deal and crafted the bill are misleading the public – in no way does this legislation rein in the governor enough or hold him accountable. It is stunning that some would rather acquiesce so readily to the governor rather than do their job as public officials.”

 

The governor retains rule over the already in-place executive orders he issued over the pandemic and is able to make any alteration to these orders without notification to the Legislature. Angelino argues that any alteration to existing executive orders constitutes a new order altogether. The downstate Democratic leadership provided the weakest oversight mechanism by requiring the governor to give notification of new orders, but the Legislature can only “comment” on the policies. "Last I knew the US Constitution allowed anyone to "comment" on the government's activities, why this phrase needs inclusion baffles me,” added the assemblyman.

 

Angelino, along with his Assembly Republican colleagues, has been calling for the governor’s extraordinary powers to be removed entirely and for the Legislature to resume its role as a co-equal branch of government. Stripping the governor of these additional powers would restore local authority so local governments can make the decisions that impact their own communities – such as when to lift excessive rules on businesses that are in regions with low COVID-19 rates.

 

- From the Office of Assemblyman Joseph Angelino