New York state lawmakers on Friday moved to curtail management powers granted to Gov. Andrew Cuomo during the coronavirus pandemic, as he faced bipartisan rebuke over changes his administration made to a report on COVID-19 nursing home deaths.
The Democratic-dominated state Senate passed legislation that prevents the governor from issuing new emergency directives, which he has used over the past year to close schools, override local governments and set parameters for business operations.
Cuomo’s prior directives will remain in effect temporarily. Their renewal now requires a written explanation certified by the state health commissioner and commentary from key lawmakers.
The bill also gives the Legislature the power to strip Cuomo of his emergency management powers, which were granted to him in March 2020. The Democratic-controlled state Assembly was expected to pass the bill Friday afternoon.
See also: ‘Document everything’: 3 women allege Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed them — what do you do if it happens to you?
The legislation is the most tangible action yet that lawmakers have taken against Cuomo, a Democrat who has been left politically isolated over his handling of Covid-19 in nursing homes and over recent accusations that he sexually harassed two former female aides.
An expanded version of this report appears at WSJ.com.
