[ THEME MUSIC ] [ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

THE BAD NEWS KEEPS COMING FOR GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

A FORMER AIDE TO THE GOVERNOR ACCUSED HIM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT THIS WEEK SAYING CUOMO MADE INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS TO HER AT SEVERAL POINTS AND TRIED TO KISS HER.

CUOMO HAS DENIED THOSE CLAIMS BUT SOME DEMOCRATS ARE NOW CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO HIS CONDUCT.

THAT'S ON TOP OF CALLS FOR A SEPARATE INVESTIGATION INTO THE STATE'S HANDLING OF COVID-19 AT NURSING HOMES, INCLUDING DATA ON THOSE FACILITIES.

THEY SAY THAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE COMING DAYS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>>DAN: LAWMAKERS IN NEW YORK SAY THEY'RE INCHING CLOSER TO ACTION AGAINST THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION OVER ITS DECISION TO WITHHOLD DATA ON COVID-19 DEATHS AT NURSING HOMES.

BUT DEMOCRATS WHO CONTROL THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAVEN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON HOW EXACTLY TO MOVE FORWARD.

MEMBERS OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY MET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ON THE ISSUE FOR SIX HOURS THIS WEEK AND WHILE THEY AGREE THAT SOME ACTION MUST BE TAKEN, THEY HAVEN'T HASHED OUT THE DETAILS.

HERE'S ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE.

>> THAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU.

I DO THINK THERE'S A CONSENSUS OF MEMBERS, THEY WANT TO TAKE SOME ACTION.

>>DAN: SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO STRIP CUOMO OF THE EMERGENCY LAWMAKING POWERS GRANTED TO HIM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

OTHERS WANT A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE STATE'S HANDLING OF NURSING HOMES BUT NO ONE IDEA HAS GAINED ENOUGH SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO COME TO COME TO A PLACE WHERE I THINK ALL OF THE MEMBERS WILL BE COMFORTABLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE THERE YET.

>>DAN: OVER IN THE STATE SENATE, DEMOCRATS COULD APPROVE THEIR PLAN TO CURB CUOMO'S EMERGENCY POWERS AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

THEY'RE PLANNING TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO REVIEW FUTURE ACTIONS BY THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION, BUT REPUBLICANS SAY THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

THEY WANT DEMOCRATS TO DO AWAY WITH CUOMO'S EMERGENCY POWERS COMPLETELY AND CONSIDER IMPEACHING THE THREE-TERM GOVERNOR.

>> THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO WHEN MY CONSTITUENTS CALL ME ABOUT ALL THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND ALL I CAN TELL THEM IS, YOU KNOW, I'LL CALL THE GOVERNOR OR SEND HIM A LETTER OR WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I WAS ELECTED TO DO.

>>DAN: REPUBLICANS HAVE TRIED IN RECENT WEEKS TO PRESSURE DEMOCRATS INTO ACTION AGAINST THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION.

THOSE CALLS ESCALATED WHEN IT WAS REVEALED IN EARLY FEBRUARY THAT CUOMO'S OFFICE HAD WITHHELD DATA FROM THE LEGISLATURE ON NURSING HOMES.

UNTIL THIS MONTH, THE STATE HADN'T PUBLICLY REPORTED HOW MANY NURSING HOMES RESIDENTS DIED IN HOSPITALS ONLY THOSE WHO DIED AT NURSING HOMES, AND THE NEW DATA HAS SHOWN ABOUT 4,000 MORE NURSING HOME RESIDENTS DIED THAN THE PUBLIC KNEW ABOUT.

>> THIS IS REALLY NOT ABOUT POLITICS.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPOSED TO COVID IN OUR NURSING HOMES.

>>DAN: DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE HAVEN'T SAID WHEN THEY PLAN TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CURVE CUOMO'S POWERS.

SOURCES SAY THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF THEY CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT BEFORE MOVING FORWARD, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, REPUBLICANS CROSSED THE AISLE IN A RARE MOMENT OF BIPARTISANSHIP THIS WEEK TO APPROVE A NEW PACKAGE OF BILLS AIMED AT IMPROVING CARE AND TRANSPARENCY AT THE STATE'S NURSING HOMES.

THOSE BILLS WOULD REQUIRE NURSING HOMES TO DEDICATE MORE OF THEIR REVENUES TO DIRECT PATIENT CAR, FORCE THE STATE TO ACCURATELY REPORT DEATHS AT THOSE FACILITIES AND MORE.

>> WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR NEW YORKERS TO KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT EACH AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO PASSED AWAY AND WE NEED TO CHANGE POLICY TO PROTECT THE MOST INDIVIDUAL NEW YORK-- THE MOST-- THE MOST FRAGILE NEW YORKERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

>>DAN: THE ASSEMBLY IS PLANNING ITS OWN PACKAGE OF NURSING HOME REFORMS BUT HAVEN'T SAID WHEN THEY'LL BE PASSED.

THOSE CHANGES COULD END UP AS PART OF THE STATE BUDGET WHICH IS DUE AT THE END OF MARCH.

AND WE DID OFFER GOVERNOR CUOMO TO COME ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW BUT HIS TEAM DID NOT MAKE HIM AVAILABLE.

LET'S GET INTO WHERE THINGS STAND WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

KAREN DEWITT IS FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIO, AND DAVID LOMBARDO HOSTS THE CAPITAL PRESS ROOM, ALSO ON PUBLIC RADIO.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR FIRST.

I JUST WANT TO GO OVER THEM REALLY QUICKLY.

IT'S FROM LYNDSEY BOYLAN, A FORMER TOP AIDE AT THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A STATE AGENCY.

SHE'S NOW RUNNING FOR MANHATTAN BUREAU PRESIDENT.

SHE'S ALLEGING THAT ON A PLANE RIDE WITH THE GOVERNOR HE OFFERED TO PLAY STRIP POKER WITH HER AND AT A DIFFERENT POINT SHE WAS ALONE IN HIS OFFICE WITH HIM AND HE TRIED TO FORCIBLY KISS HER.

THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

KAREN, HOW HAS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RESPONDED?

THEY'VE DENIED IT.

LYNDSEY BOYLAN DID REFER TO THE THINGS THAT SHE BROUGHT UP THIS WEEK, A TWEET WAY BACK IN DECEMBER AND CUOMO DENIED IT ALL AND SAID WOMEN SHOULD BE HEARD BUT NONE OF THIS HAPPENED.

HE HASN'T SPOKEN BUT HE'S HAD HIS TOP AIDES SAY, WE WERE ON ALL OF THOSE PLANE RIDES IN OCTOBER OF 2017 WHEN THIS ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED.

WE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

CUOMO HAD ONE OF HIS BEST FRIENDS, I GUESS, HIS LONGTIME TOP AIDE AND ASSOCIATE, STEVEN COHEN, TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S CHARACTER.

HE SAID HE'S NEVER SEEN HIM BEHAVE IN ANYWAY LIKE THAT.

HE'S SAID, WELL, HE'S A TOUGH GUY.

HE GIVES YOU HIS OPINION AND HE'S A VERY HARD-CHARGING BOSS, BUT HE'S ONLY DOING IT FOR OUR OWN GOOD TO MAKE US BETTER PEOPLE AND STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE.

BUT HE SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

HE DID ADMIT HE DID NOT WORK FOR STATE GOVERNMENT WHEN LYNDSEY BOYLAN WAS EMPLOYED.

SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S THAT.

>> THERE IS THAT.

AND I WILL SAY IN THE STATEMENT THAT THEY RELEASED, THEY ADDRESSED THE PLANE RIDE ALLEGATIONS AND WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE STRIP POKER AND THEY DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY POINT TO THE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT HIM KISSING HER.

I'M ASSUMING HE'S GOING TO BE ASKED ABOUT THAT AT SOME POINT.

WE'RE TAPING ON FRIDAY MORNING BEFORE THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN HIS BRIEFING TODAY SO I'M ASSUMING IT WILL COME UP IF HE HOLDS A BRIEF.

>> IF HE HOLDS A BRIEFING.

>> IT IS A BIG QUESTION.

>> DAVE, HOW IS THE LEGISLATURE RESPONDING TO THIS?

IN THE PAST, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN STRONG COMING OUT AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS.

>> WHEN THOSE HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS ARE AGAINST REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS WHO AREN'T THE GOVERNOR.

RIGHT NOW, WE'VE SEEN STATEMENTS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THAT HAVE BASICALLY BEEN LIKE, BOY, THIS IS NOT GOOD.

THEY STOPPED SHORT OF ACTUALLY SAYING WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION.

WHERE WE HAVE SEEN THE CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION IS FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS.

MANY OF WHOM HAD NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS TYPE OF THING WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND SOME RANK-AND-FILE DEMOCRATS, WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOUGH, TO GET SOME SORT OF INVESTIGATION WHETHER BY JCOPE, THE ENTITY THAT THEORETICALLY WOULD HAVE OVERSIGHT OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS BUT HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR IS SO ENTANGLED WITH THAT; OR WHETHER MAYBE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GETS INVOLVED.

THEORETICALLY, SHE CAN GET A REFERRAL FROM THE GOVERNOR TO LOOK AT CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THERE'S ALSO SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE COULD LOOK AT THIS.

THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, ALESSANDRA BIAGGI, RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHETHER SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO GO AFTER THE GOVERNOR IN THAT CAPACITY.

>> IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY BEEN TAINTED BY GOVERNOR CUOMO ESSENTIALLY CONTROLLING JCOPE AND ACTUALLY THEY DID INVESTIGATE SOME SEXUAL HARASSMENT CHARGES FROM WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THEY DID A VERY BAD JOB OF IT.

THE WOMEN FELT LIKE THEY WERE THE ONES ON TRIAL.

THEY'RE NOT THAT WELL EQUIPPED FOR THIS ANYWAY.

IT LEAVES A BIG GAPING HOLE.

DOES IT HANG OUT THERE?

HOW DOES THE GOVERNOR ADDRESS IT?

I GUESS THE BIGGER THING WE SHOULD MENTION IS NO OTHER WOMAN HAS COME FORWARD AT THIS POINT.

>> THERE WAS ANOTHER STAFFER WHO WORKED FOR THE GOVERNOR WHEN HE WAS IN CLINTON ADMINISTRATION 20 YEARS AGO, KAREN HINTON.

SHE ALSO WORKED IN NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL DI BLASIO'S OFFICE AND SHE WROTE IN THE DAILY NEWS THIS WEEK BASICALLY LAYING OUT A CULTURE OF BULLYING AND HOSTILITY AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>> YEAH, SHE DIDN'T MENTION SEXUAL HARASSMENT BUT SHE DID MENTION A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE GOVERNOR CONSTANTLY DEMEANS HIS STAFF AND ACTS LIKE THE ONLY REASON THEY HAVE THEIR JOB IS BECAUSE OF HIS GOOD WILL AND JUST CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY FEEL BAD ABOUT THEMSELVES, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE IN.

>> WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE CUOMO AIDES THAT I'VE TALKED TO OVER THE YEARS DESCRIBE THINGS EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

IT'S A VERY, VERY HIGH PRESSURED ENVIRONMENT.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE HEARD OF AND EXPERIENCED A LITTLE BIT OF IT MYSELF IN A VERY PUBLIC EVENT IN DECEMBER OF 2017 WHERE THE GOVERNOR SAID SOME THINGS THAT ENDED UP BEING-- KIND OF WENT VIRAL ABOUT MY QUESTIONS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

SO I HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT AND I MEAN, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, AS WE BECOME MORE AWARE OF THESE THINGS, IT IS A BULLYING STYLE.

CERTAINLY WE HAD ASSEMBLYMAN RON KIM SAYING THAT THE GOVERNOR THREATENED TO DESTROY HIM IF HE KEPT THREATENING THE GOVERNOR ON NURSING HOMES, SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR HAS DENIED AND THERE'S A LOT OF ACCOUNTS OF A BULLYING WAY OF BEING A MANAGER, WHICH I THINK IN THE MODERN ERA REALLY IS NOT AS ACCEPTABLE AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MAYBE IN THE 1980S OR 1990S.

THERE'S OTHER WAYS OF GETTING WORK OUT OF PEOPLE, LIKE COLLABORATION, PRAISE, YOU KNOW-- [LAUGHTER] IT DOES WORK.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT STYLES.

THIS ISN'T THE ONLY WAY TO GET WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WANTS WHICH IS EXCELLENCE OUT OF HIS PEOPLE.

>> ALSO THIS WEEK BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, A LONG-AWAITED BUDGET HEARING ON HEALTH.

HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR. HOWARD ZUCKER FINALLY TESTIFIED ABOUT NURSING HOMES.

I WATCHED THE ENTIRE TESTIMONY OF HIM.

I FOUND IT VERY ANTI-CLIMATIC.

>> YES.

>> I DID NOT THINK LAWMAKERS LIVED UP TO THE HYPE THAT THEY WERE GOING FOR IN THIS HEARING.

>> I THOUGHT WHEN WE HAD THE OPENING WITH TOM O'MARA, THE SENATOR FROM THE SOUTHERN TIER, SAYING WE NEEDED YOU TO SWEAR IN, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SOME FIREWORKS LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, BUT REALLY NO, ANTI-CLIMATIC.

WE'VE BEEN BUILDING UP TO THIS FOR MONTHS AND IT WAS REALLY JUST A LOT OF GRAND STANDING WITH LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WITH THEIR CONCERNS.

HOWARD ZUCKERMAN TAINTING THE PARTY LINE ABOUT NURSING HOMES AND NURSING HOME DATA, SAYING WE DID EVERYTHING; WE REACTED RIGHT IN THE MOMENT WITH THE BEST KNOWLEDGE WE HAD AND WITH REGARD TO NURSING HOME DATA, THE NEW STORY ABOUT THE DOJ INQUIRY REALLY TIED OUR HANDS SO WE DIDN'T REALLY LEARN ANYTHING AND THAT'S WHY TODAY I THINK WE'RE STILL SEEING CALLS FOR MORE INFORMATION AND POTENTIALLY EVEN MORE SUBPOENAS TO SIT DOWN IN A DIFFERENT SETTING.

>> DR. ZUCKER WAS REALLY GOOD AT STICKING TO HIS STORY.

SHOWING THAT THEY ARE NOT BUDGING FROM THIS NARRATIVE, EVEN THOUGH THE NARRATIVE ISN'T WORKING THAT WELL FOR THEM.

THEY'RE HOPING IF THEY STICK TO IT MAYBE EVENTUALLY THEY WILL WIN OUT.

>> WHICH I GOT TO SAY JUST ON DAVE'S POINT, MAYBE IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE SO MANY FIREWORKS YESTERDAY.

MAYBE WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS BEING LOWERED A LITTLE BIT ON THIS ISSUE.

I KNOW THAT'S VERY OPTIMISTIC.

I BET I'M WRONG.

I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO WATCH OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THE LEGISLATURE COULD ACT AT ANY POINT.

WE'LL SEE.

>> RIGHT.

>> KAREN DEWITT FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIOM DAVE LOMBARDO FROM THE CAPITAL PRESS ROOM ALSO ON PUBLIC RADIO, THANKS SO MUCH.

SO AS WE SAID, LAWMAKERS ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON THEIR CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION OVER ITS DECISION TO WITHHOLD DATA ON NURSING HOMES FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AND REPUBLICANS THINK DEMOCRAT SHARE SOME OF THE BLAME IN ALL THAT.

AND IN THE MIDDLE IS THE STATE BUDGET WHICH IS DUE AT THE END OF MARCH.

I SPOKE THIS WEEK WITH SENATOR TOM O'MARA, THE TOP RANKING REPUBLICAN ON FINANCE AND INVESTIGATION COMMITTEES.

SENATOR TOM O'MARA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE HAD.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE BUDGET BUT BEFORE THAT, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF NURSING HOMES SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST OUTSPOKEN MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE ON THE ISSUE.

YOU'RE THE TOP-RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE SENATE INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE WILL BE MOVING TO CURVE SOME OF GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS WHICH WERE GIVEN TO HIM LAST YEAR DURING THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

I'M WONDERING, DO YOU THINK THAT GOES FAR ENOUGH?

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE END GOAL SHOULD BE HERE?

>> WELL, THE END GOAL NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED.

WE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED THE-- EVEN THE INFORMATION THAT THEY PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AT THIS POINT AND NOW THERE'S A FORMAL INVESTIGATION.

APPARENTLY STARTED IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK BY THE FBI AND THE U.S. ATTORNEY THERE.

I REALLY THINK WE NED TO HAVE A SPECIAL COUNCIL APPOINTED FOR THIS BECAUSE MELISSA DEROSA, THE SECRETARY OF THE GOVERNOR, THAT CAME OUT WITH THE STATEMENT ABOUT STUFF BEING USED AGAINST HIM, HER MOTHER-IN-LAW IS THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT, RIGHT NEXT TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT JURISDICTION.

SO THAT'S PROBLEMATIC IN MY VIEW AND I THINK WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT, UNBIASED LOOK INTO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, WHAT THE COVER-UP ACTUALLY IS.

YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR WENT SO FAR TO THREATEN A MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY WITH HIS CAREER.

THE GOVERNOR HAS CERTAINLY BEEN KNOWN TO DO THAT OVER THE YEARS, STRONG-ARMING PEOPLE BUT TO CALL SOMEBODY TO SAY CHANGE YOUR STORY, GET IN LINE, WE DON'T OPERATE LIKE THIS IS JUST MORE ADDED ON TO THE COVER-UP THERE.

SO THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR SIX MONTHS ABOUT ISSUING SUBPOENAS TO THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS INFORMATION AND NOW THAT WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE THE "NEW YORK POST" REVEALED THAT CLOSED-DOOR CONVERSATION BETWEEN MELISSA DEROSA AND THE SENATORS, THEY'RE COMING ONBOARD WITH THE POSITIONS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE HELD.

DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S BEEN A FAILURE BY DEMOCRATS IN THE MAJORITY NOT TO USE THEIR SUBPOENA POWER IN THOSE SIX MONTHS?

BECAUSE IT WOULD SEEM TO ME, AND THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS THE OTHER DAY, THAT IF THEY REALLY NEEDED THAT INFORMATION OVER THOSE SIX MONTHS, THEY DID HAVE THE TOOLS TO OBTAIN IT.

>> THEY'VE ABSOLUTELY FAILED IN THEIR DUTIES OF OVERSIGHT ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ISSUING SUBPOENAS.

THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT TERMINATING THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.

YET THEY'VE TAKEN NO ACTION WHEN THEY'RE HERE IN ALBANY.

DESPITE OUR STRONG EFFORTS IN BRINGING MOTIONS TO THE FLOOR OF THE CHAMBER AND THE SENATE.

HE STILL VOTE AGAINST THEM.

YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION, CUOMO ADMINISTRATION, ALSO STONEWALLED FOIL REQUESTS FROM THE EMPIRE CENTER, A GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUP HERE IN ALBANY, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY PAR FOR THE COURSE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION TO STONEWALL FOIL REQUESTS TO GET INFORMATION SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE EXAMINING THIS AND THEY'RE ENTITLED TO IT BY LAW.

IT'S NOT RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S AN ABUSE OF POWER AND THERE SHOULD BE CONSEQUENCES TO GOVERNOR CUOMO AND HIS STAFF FOR FAILING TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

>> I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THERE'S BEEN A BREACH OF TRUST BETWEEN THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGISLATURE AT THIS POINT.

EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE MAJORITIES IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THE GOVERNOR COULD DO RIGHT NOW TO GAIN SOME OF THAT TRUST BACK.

EITHER FROM THE LEGISLATURE OR THE PUBLIC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HE COULD DO RIGHT NOW TO MAYBE LOWER THE TEMPERATURE OR AT LEAST MOVE THINGS FORWARD?

>> YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR'S BEEN KNOWN AS A GREAT COMMUNICATOR.

HE DIDN'T WIN AN EMMY FOR NOTHING.

HIS DAILY CELEBRITY SHOWS KEEPING US UPDATED ON THE CORONAVIRUS WERE WELL DONE, AND PEOPLE WERE WELL INFORMED.

SO HE HAS THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THIS, BUT HE IS STONEWALLING ON THIS.

YOU KNOW, BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY POWERS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IN THE 11 MONTHS THAT THEY'VE BEEN GRANTED IS THAT AS SOON AS THE GOVERNOR GOT THOSE, THEY BASICALLY SHUT DOWN ALL COMMUNICATION AND EXCHANGE WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT'S INSULTING TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE OVERSIGHT ROLE OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES OF THE LEGISLATURE WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T FOLLOWED THAT FOR 11 MONTHS THESE MAJORITIES ARE DERELICT IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THEY'VE CONTINUED TO COLLECT THEIR INCOMES OVER THESE 11 MONTHS DOING NEXT TO NOTHING.

NOT DOING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE AND OVERSIGHT ON THIS AND MANY, MANY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND MINE WERE UNEMPLOYED A LOT DURING THIS PERIOD OF THE CORONAVIRUS YET, THIS LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN FULLY PAID, GETTING THEIR BENEFITS AND NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

>> SO HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME AS ALL OF THIS, KIND OF UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE IT TAKES SOME ATTENTION AWAY IS THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS.

THE STATE BUDGET IS DUE AT THE END OF MARCH.

THE STATE IS FACING A $15 BILLION DEFICIT OVER TWO YEARS.

THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED HIS BUDGET PLAN.

DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE LEANING TOWARD SOME SORT OF TAX HIKES ON THE RICH AND DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO HASH OUT, BUT YOU'RE THE TOP-RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH NEGOTIATES THE BUDGET WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE STATE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO FILL THAT GIANT BUDGET GAP THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THE BUDGET GAP IS AS SIGNIFICANT AS THE GOVERNOR HAS CLAIMED.

THE GOVERNOR IS CERTAINLY TRYING TO MAKE A CASE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR AS MUCH RELIEF AS WE POSSIBLY CAN GET.

I THINK THE GAP IS PROBABLY HALF OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S CLAIMING THAT IT IS.

YOU KNOW, IT IS A BUSY TIME IN LOOKING AT THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT SOON, I THINK, FROM THE FEDS HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO COME AND HOPEFULLY, SOME OF THAT IS GOING TO BE DIRECTED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DIRECTLY AND NOT PASSING THROUGH THE STATE BECAUSE CUOMO IS ALSO KNOWN FOR REDIRECTING THOSE FUNDS OR ACTUALLY CUTTING WHAT STATE FUNDS ARE GOING TO GO TO CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SUPPLANTING IT WITH THE FEDERAL CARES MONEY THAT HAS COME.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THIS WHOLE SCANDAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY THROWN A BIG WRENCH INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE GOVERNOR WILL DO EVERYTHING HE POSSIBLY CAN TO BUILD GOOD WILL, CHANGING HIS RESTRICTIONS ALMOST DAILY, LOOSENING THINGS UP.

WE CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR ECONOMY STRUGGLING WHILE THE GOVERNOR HAS ACTIVELY SHUT DOWN OUR ECONOMY, CREATING BIGGER FISCAL WOES THAN WE WOULD HAVE HAD OTHERWISE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL BE WATCHING HOW THE BUDGET PLAYS OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AS I SAID, IT'S DUE AT THE END OF MARCH.

SENATOR TOM O'MARA, THANKS TO MUCH FOR BEING HERE >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN.

>> ON NEXT WEEK'S SHOW, WE'LL SPEAK TO THE CHAIR AND THE TOP-RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

IN THE MEANTIME, MORE ON THE STATE BUDGET.

GOVERNOR CUOMO WANTS USE $4 BILLION IN FEDERAL AID TO REPLACE STATE AID FOR SCHOOLS.

TOP EDUCATION OFFICIALS ARE AGAINST THAT IDEA.

THEY SAY THE MONEY SHOULD GO TO SCHOOLS ON TOP OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE.

THANK YOU SO IN FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OF COURSE.

LET'S START WITH THE BUDGET SINCE THE STATE BUDGET IS DUE NEXT WEEK.

THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING A $2 BILLION INCREASE IN STATE AID FOR SCHOOLS, OVERALL FUNDING NOT JUST STATE AID.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL DOLLARS AS WELL.

BRINGING THE TOTAL TO $31 BILLION.

I'M WONDERING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS THE HEAD OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IS THAT ENOUGH FOR SCHOOLS, OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE?

>> WELL, IRS IF OF ALL, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

WE ARE CONCERNED AND BY THE WAY, THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE PROFOUNDLY OPPOSED TO THE FACT THAT FEDERAL DOLLARS, AS YOU KNOW, THE CARES ACT 2 DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TO REPLACE STATE DOLLARS, AND NO DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD A SUPPLANTING AND SO REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT THESE $4 BILLION AS A RESULT OF THE CARES ACT 2 SHOULD BE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO ADDRESS THE LOSS AND OTHER ADVERSE IMPACTS THAT WE'VE HAD AND WE ARE CLEARLY OPPOSED TO USING THE CARES ACT 2 DOLLARS AS A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, SUPPLANT THE STATE AID PORTION.

>> CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE $4 BILLION SHOULD BE USED FOR IF NOT THIS STATE FOUNDATION AID SUPPLANT, I GUESS.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE SCHOOLS USE THE MONEY FOR?

WHERE IS THE NEED, I GUESS?

>> SURE.

AS YOU WELL KNOW, OUR SCHOOLS HAVE GONE THROUGH A GREAT DEAL OF HAVING SHIFTS IN TERMS OF LEARNING ISSUES.

SO THE $4 BILLION THAT THE FEDS HAVE SUPPORTED IN TERMS OF THE CARES ACT 2 ARE REALLY TARGETED DOLLARS FOR LEARNING LOSS, ANY KIND OF ADVERSE IMPACTS IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL TRAUMA.

THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE HAD TO GO INTO RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC, WE REALLY HAD TO USE-- LOCAL DISTRICTS HAD TO USE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THESE DOLLARS ARE REALLY TARGETED DOLLARS AND THIS IS A ONE-SHOT SITUATION.

SO THE PURPOSE, THE INTENTIONALITY OF THESE DOLLARS ARE VERY CLEAR, THAT THEY ARE TO-- NOT TO REPLACE THE DOLLARS BUT THEY ARE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT ARE ENORMOUSLY NEEDED FOR OUR DISTRICTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR STUDENTS.

>> YOU KNOW, JUST ON THE POINT OF HOW SCHOOLS HAVE ADAPTED AND HOW THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO BE USED, I'M WONDERING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW ARE SCHOOLS DOING RIGHT NOW?

WE'RE A YEAR ABOUT INTO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THINGS HAVE REALLY CHANGED FOR THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, BUT PARTICULARLY ON THE GROUND FOR TEACHERS TEACHING, ADMINISTRATORS AT SCHOOLS.

THEY HAVE TO I THIS ABOUT A MILLION DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY NEVER HAD TO THINK ABOUT.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM DISTRICTS?

>> SURE.

I THINK I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE OUR STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING RESPONSE BY MANY OF OUR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, SUPERINTENDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING ISSUES WHETHER IT'S ISSUES HAVING TO DO WITH, AS YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, BROADBAND ISSUES, THE FOOD AND THE TRANSPORTATION ARE ALL KINDS OF COMPLICATED.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD A YEAR OF CHALLENGES BEYOND THE ISSUE OF EDUCATING CHILDREN IN THE REMOTE MODE AND HAVING TO SHIFT TO THOSE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S BEEN A COMMUNITY.

I CALL IT A REAL TRULY COMMUNITY RESPONSE THAT HAS KEPT OUR CHILDREN, OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOLS AT THE FOREFRONT AND OUR LEADERS HAVE REALLY RESPONDED AND HAVE BEEN VIGILANT AND HAVE BEEN CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE IN MANY WAYS THAT WE COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS.

>> SO PART OF ALL THAT IS A NEW INITIATIVE THAT YOU HAVE TO PROMOTE WHAT'S CALLED DIGITAL EQUITY UNTIL SCHOOLS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND I THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC, AS YOU SAID, HAS REALLY SHINED A LOT OF LIGHT ON THIS DIGITAL INEQUITY THAT WE SEE AROUND THE STATE.

IF WE'RE REMOTE LEARNING, YOU NEED THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO IT.

YOU AT THE HEAD OF THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE TRYING TO FOSTER DIGITAL EQUITY.

TELL ME WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO HERE.

>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE-- IN MARCH WHEN WE ACTUALLY SHUT DOWN OUR BUILDINGS, WE DID NOT SHUT DOWN INSTRUCTION, AND THAT'S REALLY A KEY POINT.

THE MAIN THEME HERE IS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ISSUE OF BROADBAND, DEVICES, AND WE FOUND THAT MANY OF OUR POOREST COMMUNITIES ARE PARTICULARLY-- OUR BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN IN THOSE COMMUNITIES DID NOT HAVE KINDS OF DEVICES THAT WERE NEEDED TO CONTINUE THEIR LEARNING.

SCHOOLS IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED WITH ATTEMPTING TO FILL THAT GAP, BUT WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE NEED THE BROADBAND, AND WE NEED THE EQUIPMENT, THE TOOLS, THE DEVICES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO DO A GREAT DEAL OF WORK ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GETTING OUR TEACHERS UP TO SPEED AND HOW TO USE THIS PLATFORM IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS CHILDREN TO LEARN 24/7.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A HUGELY IMPORTANT ISSUE ESPECIALLY WITH EDUCATION SHIFTING EVERY YEAR.

THERE ARE NEW THINGS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION, AND UNLESS YOU'RE A PARENT OR SOMEBODY THAT'S INTERESTED , YOU MAY NOT KNOW.

'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALWAYS WATCHING.

COMMISSIONER ROSA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> AND JUST A NOTE THAT I MISSPOKE DURING THE INTERVIEW.

THE STATE BUDGET IS DUE AT THE END OF MARCH.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ]