14 June 2021: Leftist NY Lawmakers Exploit Scandal-Weakened Cuomo for Gain

With Cuomo Weakened, N.Y. Lawmakers end Sesson With Flex of Power

This report describes how Andrew M. Cuomo has gone from a strong to a weak governor with reduced influence over laws made in New York's legislature.

Lawmakers clashed with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo over his 11th-hour proposal to restructure the leadership of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, one of Mr. Cuomo’s most important priorities. Democrats in the State Senate had reached a tentative agreement with Mr. Cuomo on the matter, but, in a surprise twist, the deal unraveled late on Thursday, and the Senate gaveled out of session without passing the governor’s measure.

The fallout was the latest indication of how Mr. Cuomo’s political power has diminished since his administration was buffeted by scandals, investigations and calls for his resignation from members of his own party. Earlier this year, the Legislature, where Democrats now enjoy a majority large enough to override a governor’s veto, scaled back Mr. Cuomo’s emergency powers and passed policies that the governor long opposed in the state budget.

“What I see in the past year, and to some extent it’s a result of the scandals that have dogged the governor, is that the legislative branch is becoming way more assertive in a way I haven’t seen in 20 years,” said Blair Horner, a longtime Albany lobbyist. “With the supermajorities in both houses, I feel like the Legislature has decided to stop getting pushed over by the executive.”

Mr. Cuomo, a third-term Democrat, was largely absent from the end-of-session negotiations, seemingly more focused on projecting an image of normalcy in the face of several sexual harassment allegations and scrutiny over his handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic. Last week, he used news conferences in Manhattan and the opening of the Tribeca Festival to continue to herald the state’s economic reopening.

The governor may have also been trying avoid unnecessary altercations with lawmakers, who could move to impeach him.

And yet, many of the same lawmakers allowed Governor Cuomo to pick judges who would participate on the jury of his impeachment trial if they decide to go forward with it. If they think it is to their advantage to allow the current situation continue, why would they ever stop the gravy train by impeaching Cuomo?