ALBANY, N.Y. – New York lawmakers reached an agreement Tuesday to rescinding and limit Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sweeping emergency pandemic powers.
With the governor facing swirling scandals related to sexual harassment claims and his administration’s handling of nursing home COVID-19 deaths, legislative leaders said it’s time to restore “checks and balances.”
The legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, will immediately repeal the temporary emergency powers granted to the governor last year, while allowing some executive actions critical to public health to remain in place.
“These temporary emergency powers were granted as New York was devastated by a virus we knew nothing about,” Heastie said in a statement. “Now it is time for our government to return to regular order.”
Under the proposal, standing directives taken by executive action that “manage the spread or reduction of COVID-19, facilitate the vaccination process, or require use of face coverings,” will remain in effect for an additional 30 days. They can then be renewed but will be subject to review by the Legislature.