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#Cuomo-Schumer tensions emerge amid Democratic rule in DC

#Cuomo-Schumer tensions emerge amid Democratic rule in DC

Democratic rule in D.C. amid the coronavirus pandemic could expose simmering tensions between New York’s two political titans — Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sen. Chuck Schumer, the new Senate Democratic majority leader, sources who know both men said.

“Theirs is a working relationship at best,” said one top New York Democrat.

“There was enormous tension between the two in the spring,” the party insider said.

Cuomo publicly slammed Schumer last year for not backing changes to restructure the Medicaid program he was depending on to generate savings in the state budget.

Cuomo last March also blasted Schumer’s $2.1 billion bipartisan deal on COVID-19 relief with the Trump administration as “terrible” for New York state.

“I say to Sen. Schumer, it would be nice if he passed a piece of legislation that actually helped the state of New York,” Cuomo told reporters during the spat last spring.

Schumer at the time said he delivered plenty.

One veteran Albany and D.C. lobbyist described the Cuomo-Schumer relationship as a chilly “co-existence.”

“It’s not a warm, friendly relationship. You have two highly competitive, larger than life personalities. Cuomo comes from Queens. Schumer from Brooklyn,” the lobbyist said.

Schumer now is the Senate majority leader, with more leverage to deliver for New York.

But Cuomo continues to publicly keep the pressure on Schumer and President Biden to deliver for New York. He threatened to sue them if they don’t provide $15 billion in federal aid to help balance the state budget.

While discussing his budget plan last week, sources said Cuomo continued to needle Schumer, source said.

Cuomo lauded Schumer as “not just a friend of New York” but a “New Yorker” and expected Washington to be “fair” to the Empire State with Democrats in charge.

But the governor then went on to say that actions are louder than words and went on to praise Schumer’s predecessor, former Republican Sen. Al D’Amato, for blocking an effort to eliminate the provision allowing New Yorkers to deduct their high state and local taxes on their federal tax returns when Ronald Reagan was president.

The tax law approved by former President Trump and the GOP-led Congress in 2017 limited the deductions to $10,000 while slashing federal income and corporate taxes.

Both Schumer and Cuomo opposed the SALT restriction, but the senate majority leader is now on the spot to try to undo it.

The Cuomo and Schumer camps sought to downplay any tensions.

“We each have our role to play and perform to deliver for the people of New York,” said Cuomo senior adviser Rich Azzopardi.

Schumer spokesman Angelo Roefaro said, “Senator Schumer and Governor Cuomo are working very closely together to deliver additional aid to New York.”

The Schumer camp noted that the senator helped deliver $27.1 billion in coronvirus relief aid to New York State since the pandemic began, which helped fund education, the MTA and other services.

Cuomo and Schumer have an incentive to work closely together to get things done. Both are on the ballot for re-election next year.

“Schumer and Cuomo will be working much more collaboratively together. The dynamic changed because of the powerful position Schumer is in . . . Schumer will be able to do things that he wasn’t able to before when he was in the minority,” said D’Amato, whom Schumer defeated in 1998.

Former Harlem Congressman Charles Rangel, who has known both Schumer and Cuomo for decades, said, “I don’t have an understanding that they are buddies.”

“But they are both responsible, quality officials and they love their state and city,” he said

“If Cuomo and Schumer have a problem I’m not looking to see anything about it in public or read about it in the NY Post.”

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