Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C,I-Deerpark) is calling for a return to established state government operations, processes and legislative powers. He said it is time to restore the traditional authorities given to the Legislature and end Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s expanded emergency powers as the state reports declining numbers of COVID-19 cases and begins planning for a phased reopening of the economy.
"The temporary emergency powers provided to the governor were always intended to be just that: temporary," Brabenec said. "We need to move in the direction of reopening New York so our small businesses and employees can go back to work and begin the process of rebuilding our economy.
"We need to bring the ideas and concerns from our county executives, local officials and small business owners from all regions of the state to Albany and make decisions based on consensus, not autonomy," the assemblyman added. "One man making these reopening decisions without input from the people's representatives violates the very principals that our state and nation were built on.”
In recent weeks, the state has seen reductions in the number of hospitalizations, infection rates and reported deaths. On April 20, the Assembly Minority Conference called for a plan to regionally reopen businesses in regions where the COVID-19 virus was less prevalent. Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented a framework for reopening areas that met certain conditions, but as of this week, no region in New York state had met the governor’s criteria.
“County executives in the Hudson Valley have already met to form collective plans to re-open," Brabenec said. "With challenging decisions and a projected $13.3 Billion state budget deficit directly in front of us, it is essential that our branches of government function as co-equal partners and in a manner where 19.5 million New Yorkers are properly represented.”