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| Guess Who’s Accusing Cuomo of Dishonesty and Betrayal? | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
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| It seemed like the political moment Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had long been waiting for: Democrats in control of the State Senate and Assembly, a chance to finally embrace and implement real change. | It seemed like the political moment Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had long been waiting for: Democrats in control of the State Senate and Assembly, a chance to finally embrace and implement real change. |
| “There are no more excuses, my friends,” the governor said last week, as he declared his agenda for the coming year. “Do what you’ve said you were going to do all those years, and make a Democratic vision a reality.” | “There are no more excuses, my friends,” the governor said last week, as he declared his agenda for the coming year. “Do what you’ve said you were going to do all those years, and make a Democratic vision a reality.” |
| Within days, questions about the governor’s intentions had emerged. They came from the Assembly and the State Senate, from new lawmakers and veterans. They accused the governor of dishonesty, stinginess, even betrayal. | Within days, questions about the governor’s intentions had emerged. They came from the Assembly and the State Senate, from new lawmakers and veterans. They accused the governor of dishonesty, stinginess, even betrayal. |
| The backbiting was not altogether unexpected — this is Albany, after all. But what was unexpected was the source of the dissent: Mr. Cuomo’s fellow Democrats. | The backbiting was not altogether unexpected — this is Albany, after all. But what was unexpected was the source of the dissent: Mr. Cuomo’s fellow Democrats. |
| There was the cohort of six newly elected senators, five from New York City, who took issue with Mr. Cuomo’s calling a legal fight over equitable school funding a “distraction.” One of the six, Robert Jackson, who won a seat in Manhattan, called Mr. Cuomo’s remarks “fiction”; another, John Liu, who won a seat in Queens, compared the governor to Ebenezer Scrooge. | There was the cohort of six newly elected senators, five from New York City, who took issue with Mr. Cuomo’s calling a legal fight over equitable school funding a “distraction.” One of the six, Robert Jackson, who won a seat in Manhattan, called Mr. Cuomo’s remarks “fiction”; another, John Liu, who won a seat in Queens, compared the governor to Ebenezer Scrooge. |
| Even the Assembly speaker, Carl E. Heastie, recently made clear his displeasure with Mr. Cuomo over the governor’s desire to limit legislators’ outside income. | Even the Assembly speaker, Carl E. Heastie, recently made clear his displeasure with Mr. Cuomo over the governor’s desire to limit legislators’ outside income. |
| “God knows the governor has had issues in his office,” Mr. Heastie said in a radio interview, probably in reference to recent corruption trials connected to Mr. Cuomo’s administration. “Yet only the Legislature was told, ‘You have to reform the way you do business.’” | “God knows the governor has had issues in his office,” Mr. Heastie said in a radio interview, probably in reference to recent corruption trials connected to Mr. Cuomo’s administration. “Yet only the Legislature was told, ‘You have to reform the way you do business.’” |
| It was a striking comment from Mr. Heastie, who has typically been cautious when it comes to criticizing Mr. Cuomo. | It was a striking comment from Mr. Heastie, who has typically been cautious when it comes to criticizing Mr. Cuomo. |
| Together with the senators’ statements, it suggested a subtle but potentially momentous shift in the power dynamics of Albany: Newly empowered by resounding Democratic majorities in both chambers and watched closely by an expectant electorate, legislators may be emboldened to push back against the governor. | Together with the senators’ statements, it suggested a subtle but potentially momentous shift in the power dynamics of Albany: Newly empowered by resounding Democratic majorities in both chambers and watched closely by an expectant electorate, legislators may be emboldened to push back against the governor. |
| In other words, the strength of Democratic victories in November has raised the paradoxical possibility of more headaches for the state’s Democratic governor than he endured from with Republicans. | In other words, the strength of Democratic victories in November has raised the paradoxical possibility of more headaches for the state’s Democratic governor than he endured from with Republicans. |
| “I think that as a new senator, I’m less concerned about managing expectations,” said Julia Salazar, one of the six victorious insurgents who also panned the governor’s education remarks. “And a little bit, given my position on the political spectrum, I’m less concerned about my direct relationship with Governor Cuomo.” | “I think that as a new senator, I’m less concerned about managing expectations,” said Julia Salazar, one of the six victorious insurgents who also panned the governor’s education remarks. “And a little bit, given my position on the political spectrum, I’m less concerned about my direct relationship with Governor Cuomo.” |
| Mr. Cuomo’s office pushes back on any assertion that it has shortchanged education, noting that it has increased 36 percent since 2012, including a $1 billion increase this year, to a record high: $26.7 billion. And there is no doubt that during his two terms in office, the governor has forged a reputation as a master tactician who dominates all major negotiations, putting his political weight behind issues such as same-sex marriage or gun restrictions, and winning victories despite daunting odds. | Mr. Cuomo’s office pushes back on any assertion that it has shortchanged education, noting that it has increased 36 percent since 2012, including a $1 billion increase this year, to a record high: $26.7 billion. And there is no doubt that during his two terms in office, the governor has forged a reputation as a master tactician who dominates all major negotiations, putting his political weight behind issues such as same-sex marriage or gun restrictions, and winning victories despite daunting odds. |
| But legislation he dislikes often languishes, and open criticism of him from fellow Democrats is rare. | But legislation he dislikes often languishes, and open criticism of him from fellow Democrats is rare. |
| Progressives have long worried that Mr. Cuomo was using his political acumen to secretly undermine the liberal agenda he promoted, in particular by tacitly accepting the decision of a group of Democratic senators, known as the Independent Democratic Conference, to collaborate with the Republicans. Until recently, those senators helped allow Republicans to maintain control of the chamber and stall expensive bills that Mr. Cuomo, a fiscal moderate, might have wanted to avoid. | Progressives have long worried that Mr. Cuomo was using his political acumen to secretly undermine the liberal agenda he promoted, in particular by tacitly accepting the decision of a group of Democratic senators, known as the Independent Democratic Conference, to collaborate with the Republicans. Until recently, those senators helped allow Republicans to maintain control of the chamber and stall expensive bills that Mr. Cuomo, a fiscal moderate, might have wanted to avoid. |
| Mr. Cuomo, progressives said, could then blame the Senate Republicans rather than having to veto the bills himself. He also blamed the Republicans for blocking some progressive legislation, such as the Dream Act, which would have made it possible for undocumented students to receive state financial aid. | Mr. Cuomo, progressives said, could then blame the Senate Republicans rather than having to veto the bills himself. He also blamed the Republicans for blocking some progressive legislation, such as the Dream Act, which would have made it possible for undocumented students to receive state financial aid. |
| But after a slate of insurgent candidates won victory after victory this year, that dynamic has shifted. Five of the six senators who criticized Mr. Cuomo’s education comments, including Mr. Jackson and Mr. Liu, had defeated former I.D.C. members. | But after a slate of insurgent candidates won victory after victory this year, that dynamic has shifted. Five of the six senators who criticized Mr. Cuomo’s education comments, including Mr. Jackson and Mr. Liu, had defeated former I.D.C. members. |
| “Members cannot be afraid. Members need to represent their constituency, and they need to speak up for what they believe is right,” said Mr. Jackson, the senator-elect from Manhattan and a longtime proponent of more funding for low-income schools. “If the governor is going to be — people say that he’s like a dictator, things like that — well, let’s stand up and fight.” | “Members cannot be afraid. Members need to represent their constituency, and they need to speak up for what they believe is right,” said Mr. Jackson, the senator-elect from Manhattan and a longtime proponent of more funding for low-income schools. “If the governor is going to be — people say that he’s like a dictator, things like that — well, let’s stand up and fight.” |
| Democrats hold a supermajority in the Assembly, and will hold 40 of the Senate’s 63 seats, their strongest majority in more than a century, and just two votes shy of the two-thirds needed to override a veto by the governor. (One of those 40 is Senator Simcha Felder, who has previously sat with Republicans in that chamber. He has not indicated whom he will caucus with in the coming session, which begins in early January.) | Democrats hold a supermajority in the Assembly, and will hold 40 of the Senate’s 63 seats, their strongest majority in more than a century, and just two votes shy of the two-thirds needed to override a veto by the governor. (One of those 40 is Senator Simcha Felder, who has previously sat with Republicans in that chamber. He has not indicated whom he will caucus with in the coming session, which begins in early January.) |
| Mr. Heastie and Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the leader of the Senate Democrats, have already signaled their intention to work closely together. On Thursday, Ms. Stewart-Cousins wrote on Twitter that she and Mr. Heastie had met to discuss a “united and historic legislature.” Mr. Heastie replied that they would work “closely together” toward shared goals. | Mr. Heastie and Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the leader of the Senate Democrats, have already signaled their intention to work closely together. On Thursday, Ms. Stewart-Cousins wrote on Twitter that she and Mr. Heastie had met to discuss a “united and historic legislature.” Mr. Heastie replied that they would work “closely together” toward shared goals. |
| At the same time, the governor may also be facing more aggressive legislative oversight, with the appointment of James Skoufis as the chairman of the Investigations and Governmental Oversight Committee in the Senate. Mr. Skoufis, a Democrat who was elected to the upper chamber in November after serving in the Assembly, has signaled a willingness to criticize the governor in the past. And on Saturday, he suggested on Twitter that he would have his hands full, given Albany’s well-deserved reputation for corruption. | At the same time, the governor may also be facing more aggressive legislative oversight, with the appointment of James Skoufis as the chairman of the Investigations and Governmental Oversight Committee in the Senate. Mr. Skoufis, a Democrat who was elected to the upper chamber in November after serving in the Assembly, has signaled a willingness to criticize the governor in the past. And on Saturday, he suggested on Twitter that he would have his hands full, given Albany’s well-deserved reputation for corruption. |
| “For the first time in recent Albany history, I am hiring staff whose entire focus will be conducting investigations,” Mr. Skoufis wrote. “There’s a lot of work to do.” | “For the first time in recent Albany history, I am hiring staff whose entire focus will be conducting investigations,” Mr. Skoufis wrote. “There’s a lot of work to do.” |
| Other newcomers to the Senate also seem to be champing at the bit. Alessandra Biaggi, who defeated Jeffrey D. Klein, the former leader of the I.D.C., said her experience knocking on doors as an insurgent candidate empowered her to speak more boldly than previous legislators might have. | Other newcomers to the Senate also seem to be champing at the bit. Alessandra Biaggi, who defeated Jeffrey D. Klein, the former leader of the I.D.C., said her experience knocking on doors as an insurgent candidate empowered her to speak more boldly than previous legislators might have. |
| “Because I have the grass roots and the people behind me — it’s less about him,” she said of her willingness to challenge Mr. Cuomo on school funding. “It’s more about, ‘These people are relying on me to make the right decision on their behalf. I’d better say things that are in line with what they want, always.’” | “Because I have the grass roots and the people behind me — it’s less about him,” she said of her willingness to challenge Mr. Cuomo on school funding. “It’s more about, ‘These people are relying on me to make the right decision on their behalf. I’d better say things that are in line with what they want, always.’” |
| All the senators said they wanted to work with Mr. Cuomo and were ready to applaud him on issues where they agreed. They also emphasized their cohesion with the rest of their conference, including senators who had been in office longer and had not openly clashed with the governor. | All the senators said they wanted to work with Mr. Cuomo and were ready to applaud him on issues where they agreed. They also emphasized their cohesion with the rest of their conference, including senators who had been in office longer and had not openly clashed with the governor. |
| For its part, the governor’s office says it is expecting a lot from the Assembly and the Senate, too. | For its part, the governor’s office says it is expecting a lot from the Assembly and the Senate, too. |
| “The legislature will need to move from campaigning and advocacy to governing,” said Dani Lever, a spokeswoman for Mr. Cuomo. That, Ms. Lever added, “will require them to balance the needs of the entire state” and “pass an on-time budget so we prove we are functional, don’t lose the Senate majority and they get their raises that just passed.” | “The legislature will need to move from campaigning and advocacy to governing,” said Dani Lever, a spokeswoman for Mr. Cuomo. That, Ms. Lever added, “will require them to balance the needs of the entire state” and “pass an on-time budget so we prove we are functional, don’t lose the Senate majority and they get their raises that just passed.” |
| Still, many members of the Democratic conference, not just the new ones, are eyeing a more openly left-leaning agenda, despite potential political peril for more moderate members in New York City’s suburbs and upstate. | Still, many members of the Democratic conference, not just the new ones, are eyeing a more openly left-leaning agenda, despite potential political peril for more moderate members in New York City’s suburbs and upstate. |
| Indeed, freshmen and senior senators alike seem to be embracing a more independent approach. Senator Michael Gianaris of Queens, the deputy leader of the Democratic conference, has been a vocal critic of the subsidies that the state has promised Amazon for its new headquarters in New York; Mr. Cuomo has framed the deal as a major victory for the state. | Indeed, freshmen and senior senators alike seem to be embracing a more independent approach. Senator Michael Gianaris of Queens, the deputy leader of the Democratic conference, has been a vocal critic of the subsidies that the state has promised Amazon for its new headquarters in New York; Mr. Cuomo has framed the deal as a major victory for the state. |
| And Ms. Stewart-Cousins herself said in a recent interview that she would be unafraid to challenge Mr. Cuomo or any other official, no matter their position. | And Ms. Stewart-Cousins herself said in a recent interview that she would be unafraid to challenge Mr. Cuomo or any other official, no matter their position. |
| “I’ve always been somebody who’s very direct,” Ms. Stewart-Cousins said. “ And I’ve always been somebody who is not afraid to say what needs to be said.” | “I’ve always been somebody who’s very direct,” Ms. Stewart-Cousins said. “ And I’ve always been somebody who is not afraid to say what needs to be said.” |
| Likewise, Mr. Jackson said the Legislature should announce its new strength boldly. | Likewise, Mr. Jackson said the Legislature should announce its new strength boldly. |
| “Everyone knows that the governor thinks that he’s in control. He’s not in control,” Mr. Jackson said. “The governor cannot pass laws by himself.“ | “Everyone knows that the governor thinks that he’s in control. He’s not in control,” Mr. Jackson said. “The governor cannot pass laws by himself.“ |