In his inaugural speech to begin his third term as New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo promised that within the next 100 days he would propose “the most progressive agenda this state has ever seen”
“From voting reforms, to Roe v. Wade for New York, to protecting a woman's right to choose. To better gun laws, to healthcare protection, to legalizing marijuana, to protecting the labor movement, to a green new deal, to real criminal justice reform - we will make history and New York will move forward,” Cuomo stated during his 30 minute speech at Ellis Island.
The Governor, however, other than outlining planks in a progressive platform, didn’t offer specific details about any of them.
Still, much can be gleaned about the Governor’s intentions based on his prior remarks regarding those topics.
Cuomo's "Most Progressive" Agenda
In terms of voting reforms, Cuomo has previously stated his desire to enact automatic voter registration (whereby someone of legal voting age would be automatically registered unless they opted out), same-day registration, and early voting.
His “Roe v Wade for New York” remark reflects his desire to codify abortion rights in New York State law, in case the landmark Roe V. Wade decision - which already ensures those rights nationally - is ever overturned.
The guns laws he wants would include expanding the waiting period for purchase to ten days, and grant judges the authority to confiscate guns from those they might deem to be a “threat”.
The Green New Deal in part, would include be an ambitious plan to somehow make New York's electricity 100% carbon-neutral by 2040.
Criminal justice reform would include eliminating cash bail for those charged with minor, nonviolent offenses which supporters say would ensure equality for poor defendants who would no longer be locked up pending trial.
If some of these things sound familiar, they should, because he's proposed them before without success.
The difference now is that for the first time in years, his fellow democrats control both houses of the state legislature which Cuomo also made note of in his speech.
“Our new legislature is thankfully now governed by democrats. I feel liberated. I felt like I was fighting with one arm tied behind my back,” said Cuomo, regarding his first two terms where republicans controlled the NY State Senate.
One Party, Downstate Rule
“I think the most significant thing we face now is that there is one party rule in Albany and not just one party rule but a heavy downstate and New York city influence among the leadership of both houses and of course the Governor hailing from New York City,” said republican New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan of Elma, who now finds himself in the minority of his house. “The concern for all of us upstate is that there’s an eye toward representation of everybody across the state and not a focus on solely New York City.”
However, while some have presumed the new legislature will do Cuomo’s, some ideas they may mutually agree upon may not manifest themselves in the ways the Governor envisions, particularly if lawmakers seek to establish their independence from him.
“I’m encouraged that the new (Senate) Majority Leader, Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins has spoken publicly about representing the entire state and representing upstate as well as downstate and I certainly hope she follows through with that,” Gallivan said.
Beyond briefly outlining his agenda for his third term, Cuomo spent much of his speech blasting the administration of President Donald Trump.