Senate Republicans Plot New Challenge to Cuomo's Power, 2021 Agenda

Republicans in New York’s State Senate may have a smaller minority this year than years past — less than a third of the chamber — but they’re not planning to stay quiet, Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt told reporters in Albany Tuesday.

Ortt said Republicans, while smaller in numbers, will redouble their strategy this year as a voice of opposition against Democrats while seeking areas to work together with the majority.

“We have a smaller number, but based on experience and talent, they’re going to need all 43 of their members to match the 20 that I have,” Ortt said. “And I intend to show that.”

Ortt was joined by a handful of his members in Albany Tuesday to unveil a new strategy for the state called ‘Reset New York.’ The plan seeks to boost small business, infrastructure, and public safety, while lowering the cost of living for residents in New York.

It also seeks to strip Gov. Andrew Cuomo of a special set of powers granted to him at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Legislature. Those powers have allowed Cuomo to, essentially, rewrite state law, though lawmakers have the power to reverse his decisions.

Republicans have called on Democrats, for months, to approve a law that would remove those powers from Cuomo.

But Democrats, who hold the majority in both the Senate and the Assembly, have said there’s reason for Cuomo to keep that power while the pandemic continues to rage in New York. The state has faced a steady uptick of the virus in recent months.

Ortt said Republicans will now begin a new strategy to get their point across; starting next week, they plan to introduce a resolution each day lawmakers are in Albany that would rescind those powers from Cuomo.

“We will introduce a resolution next week calling on the majority to rescind the governor’s emergency powers, and it’s my position that we will introduce that resolution every day we're in session until it’s done,” Ortt said.

Richard Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo pushed back in a statement, saying the Legislature has the power to reverse any of the governor’s decisions during the pandemic through a majority vote in both chambers. So far, that hasn’t happened.

“One more time: Any pandemic emergency order can be rescinded by a joint legislative resolution that doesn’t need the Governor’s signature,” the spokesman said. “But pandering politicians are gonna pander.”

Ortt said Republicans will juggle a series of priorities this year, but that the state’s economy is at the top of the list as New York faces a budget deficit north of $10 billion. That’s due to lost tax revenue and the state’s response to the pandemic.

Democrats in the Legislature have proposed new, higher taxes on the state’s richest earners to help fill the deficit, though no proposal has been seriously considered. Cuomo has called on lawmakers to wait for aid from the federal government before making any moves.

Ortt said Tuesday that Democrats, including Cuomo, should take a closer look at the state’s spending practices in an effort to identify areas where they could reduce costs, rather than filling the gap entirely through new revenue.

"We have a $170 billion budget. You'll never convince me that New York's primary problem is a revenue problem,” Ortt said. “It's a spending problem.”

Republicans in the Senate aren’t totally against new revenue raisers, Ortt said. They support the legalization of mobile sports betting, for example, but have concerns over the legalizing marijuana, he said.

Lawmakers will begin the first day of this year’s legislative session on Wednesday, with Democrats expected to lead a light week to kick off the new year.