"It's a disaster": Advocates for low-income New Yorkers speak up about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's cuts to Medicaid and other programs. Cuomo also made sure to slip in a provision shanking the @NYWFP: huffpost.com/entry/governor… via @HuffPostPol
For the past few days, Cuomo had been enduring some negative press coverage for Medicaid cuts to hospitals during a pandemic: nytimes.com/2020/03/30/nyr…
Those cuts would also have jeopardized New York's access to $6.5 billion in federal emergency Medicaid assistance.
Those cuts would also have jeopardized New York's access to $6.5 billion in federal emergency Medicaid assistance.
His response? Defer the Medicaid cuts until after the pandemic passes, allowing him to get both the federal billions *and* enact $2.5 billion in annual cuts (albeit later on).
This is in a Democratic trifecta state where Democrats control both legislative chambers.
This is in a Democratic trifecta state where Democrats control both legislative chambers.
Incidentally, Robert Mujica, Cuomo's budget director, previously worked for state Senate Republicans when they controlled the chamber. hcr.ny.gov/robert-mujica-…
Another important Cuomo priority: Raising the threshold for third parties to get on the ballot from 50,000 in last Gov race to the greater of 130,000 or 2% in last Gov *and* presidential elections.
Only the Conservative Party would meet that standard based on 2018 performance.
Only the Conservative Party would meet that standard based on 2018 performance.
The new rule is designed to screw the @NYWFP.
But the situation would be worse for them without their 2018 victories.
Of the 5 Senate Democrats who voted down the budget, 4 were 2018 insurgent candidates (3 were IDC ousters).
But the situation would be worse for them without their 2018 victories.
Of the 5 Senate Democrats who voted down the budget, 4 were 2018 insurgent candidates (3 were IDC ousters).
Opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy is the defining policy stance of Cuomo's three terms as governor.
He could be emulating past NY governors who raised taxes in crisis. But he watered down a "millionaire's tax" he inherited in 2011: nytimes.com/2011/12/07/nyr…
He could be emulating past NY governors who raised taxes in crisis. But he watered down a "millionaire's tax" he inherited in 2011: nytimes.com/2011/12/07/nyr…
This is exactly what advocates fear: That Cuomo's new press conference-driven popularity actually makes him more comfortable cutting social programs. There's less of a political cost.
