>> WHAT WOULD GOLDILOCKS SAY ABOUT THAT RECOVERY ACT?

TOO BIG, TOO LITTLE OR JUST RIGHT.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT ON "IVORY TOWER."

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

ON THE PANEL TONIGHT TO DISCUSS THE NEWS, ARE TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, RICK FENNER FROM UTICA COLLEGE, PHIL KLINKNER FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE AND BOB SPITZER FROM SUNY CORTLAND.

WELL, PANEL, THE BIG NEWS OF THE WEEK, OF COURSE, IS THE STIMULUS PLAN THAT CONGRESS PASSED AND THE PRESIDENT SIGNED.

IT'S A $1.9 TRILLION PLAN THAT INCLUDES DIRECT PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS, CHILD TAX CREDITS, HELP FOR SCHOOLS, STATES, MUNICIPALITIES, FARMERS, MORE MONEY TO FIGHT COVID.

THAT'S JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS.

BUT RICK, AS THE ECONOMIST ON THE PANEL, I'M EAGER TO HEAR, HOW DO YOU SIZE THIS UP?

>> NIENGS THANKS BARBARA, IT TRULY IS A MONUMENTAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION BUT PASSED NARROWLY.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MAJOR CRITICISMS.

FIRST, REPUBLICANS SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOT IN THERE THAT WASN'T RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT'S TRUE, BUT SOME, LIKE THE INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

IN ADDITION, MOST OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE EITHER ONE-TIME EXPENSES SUCH AS THE STIMULUS CHECK, OR LIMITED TIME SUCH AS THE EXPANSION OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT RUN THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

EVEN ASPECTS OF THE BILL THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC SUCH AS THE EXPANSION OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, ARE ONLY IN THERE FOR ONE YEAR THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS THAT IT IS TOO BIG $1.9 TRILLION.

THE ANSWER IS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS.

BUT THE LESSON WE LEARNED FROM THE GREAT RECESSION, IT IS BETTER TO HAVE A LITTLE TOO MUCH STIMULUS THAN TOO LITTLE.

THE RELIEF PACKAGE THAT WE PASSED DURING THE GREAT RECESSION GOT WHITTLED DOWN SO MUCH THAT IT ENDED UP NOT BEING SUFFICIENT, AND WE ENDED UP PAYING THE PRICE BY HAVING HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND SLOW ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR MANY YEARS.

I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO MAKE THAT PROBLEM AGAIN.

WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.

AND THEN THEY ALSO ARE SAYING WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MORE MONEY WHEN WE HAVEN'T SPENT ALL OF THE MONEY FROM THE PRIOR PLAN?

AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A RED HERRING BECAUSE MOST OF THAT MONEY THAT HASN'T BEEN SPENT WAS GEARED TO BE SPENT OVER TIME; FOR INSTANCE, ALMOST HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS OF IT WAS APPROPRIATED JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO IN THE RESPONSE AND RELIEF ACT MEANT TO PAY FOR THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM AND THE EXTENSION OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT ARE GOING TO RUN THROUGH APRIL.

SO THE FACT THAT SOME MONEY FROM PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROGRAMS HAVEN'T BEEN PAID YET DOESN'T REALLY MEAN THAT WE DON'T NEED ADDITIONAL MONEY GOING FORWARD AFTER THE APRIL 1 DATE.

I THINK ALL IN ALL, THIS WAS A VERY GOOD PACKAGE THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE HELP TO A NUMBER OF PARTS OF THE ECONOMY THAT SUFFERED GREATLY.

>> YEAH, AND RICK IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK HERE.

THE IDEA THAT THE PANDEMIC IS A STAND ALONE PROBLEM MISSES THE REALITY OF OUR MOMENT.

THE REASON THERE IS SO MUCH ECONOMIC PUNCH IN THIS PACKAGE IS BECAUSE THE ECONOMY FELL OFF THE CLIFF BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A TARGETED-- AID TARGETED SPECIFICALLY FOR VACCINES, GETTING THEM OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT IT IS AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS IN THE DUMPSTER.

THAT'S WHY YOU WANT THAT.

I WOULD MAKE AN INTERESTING-- I SAY INTERESTING COMPARISON BETWEEN THE BIDEN BILL AND THE 2017 TRUMP TAX BILL, WHICH ALSO WAS ECONOMIC STIMULUS EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T NEED IT BACK IN 2017, BECAUSE THE ECONOMY WAS BASICALLY DOING FINE.

AND THE KEY THING ABOUT THE BIDEN BILL WITH RESPECT TO THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS BEING DISTRIBUTED IS THAT THEY'RE MUCH MORE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE INCOME SPECTRUM.

IN THE BIDEN BILL, THE TOP FIFTH OF INCOME EARNERS WILL GET 11% OF THIS BENEFIT.

THE BOTTOM FIFTH OF ECONOMIC EARNERS ARE GETTING 23% OF THE BENEFIT.

AND THE OTHER BENEFITS ARE PRETTY EVENLY DISTRIBUTE ADD CROSS THE FIFTHS OF INCOME LEVELS IN AMERICA.

AND THE AID TARGETED TO FIGHTING POVERTY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS BILL WILL PRODUCE THE BIGGEST SINGLE CUT IN POVERTY EVER ENACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

IT EXPANDS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, AS YOU POINTED OUT, BUT MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, IT CUTS THE POVERTY RATE BY ONE THIRD.

IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE TRUMP BILL IN 2017, IT REDUCED POVERTY BY .3 OF 1%.

SO THIS AID IS GOING TO WHERE IT IS NEEDED THE MOST AND WHERE IT WILL GO STRAIGHT INTO THE ECONOMY BECAUSE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE RICH, THE VERY TOP EARNERS MIGHT SPEND THEIR MONEY TO BUY A THIRD POWER BOAT, WHEREAS PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM FIFTH AND THE SECOND BOTTOM FIFTH AND MIDDLE FIFTH ARE GOING TO SPEND THAT MONEY TO PAY BILLS, DO THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO EVERY DAY SO THERE WILL BE A GOOD STIMULUS EFFECT AND IT IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED THAT HELP.

>> TARA, I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE MONEY COMING TO LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR OR HOW SHOULD THAT BE USED?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY I THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR PROBABLY-- I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT PAYING BACK, BUT THE MONEY THAT GOVERNMENTS HAVE HAD TO SPEND OUT FOR PPE AND ALL OF THE RELATED ACCESSORIES AND NEEDS, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, SANITIZATION.

SOME OF IT WILL BE TO REPLACE SOME OF THE MONEY THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN USED FOR THAT.

SOME OF IT WILL ALSO BE USED TO DEAL WITH THE TECHNICAL THINGS THAT BUSINESSES HAVE HAD TO, WHETHER GOVERNMENT HAS HAD TO INSTALL IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC.

BUT I ALSO THINK PART OF IT WILL BE USED TO BASICALLY DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME LEVEL OF REVENUE COMING IN BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT HAVE FESTIVALS, ET CETERA.

SO I THINK IT WILL BE USED FOR ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> I'M MOST INTERESTED IN WHAT MIGHT SURVIVE IN THIS GOING FORWARD.

THE MOST INNOVATIVE PART OF IT IS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR TAX CREDIT, THEY'RE PAYING YOU THE OUT BEFORE APRIL 15.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET A MONTHLY CHECK IF THEY HAVE CHILDREN AND I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS A BIPARTISAN MOVEMENT TO ESSENTIALLY PROVIDE A BASIC MINIMUM INCOME FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

SENATOR MITT ROMNEY FROM UKAH UTAH HAS PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL THAT DOES SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS.

WE MIGHT BE SEEING THE UNITED STATES MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF OTHER ADVANCED COUNTRIES, WHERE WE HAVE A CHILD ALLOWANCE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT RAISING CHILDREN IS EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE FOR DOING IT AND THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO PROVIDE INCOME SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE HAVING CHILDREN.

>> RICK-- >> QUICK QUESTION, ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE EFFECTS ON INFLATION FROM THIS BILL?

>> NOT RIGHT NOW.

IT DOES APPEAR THAT INTEREST RATES ARE STARTING TO GO UP AND SO THIS MAY NOT BE AS CHEAP DOWN THE ROAD AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH ECONOMISTS WHO ARE WAY ABOVE MY PAY GRADE, JEROME POWELL, WHO ARE SAYING THAT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT INFLATION.

WE CAN DO THINGS TO TRY TO KEEP THAT IN CHECK LATER.

THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS GETTING THE ECONOMY BACK ON ITS FEET AGAIN, GETTING READY, AS THE VACCINE IS GIVING US THE ABILITY TO START TO THINK ABOUT GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY IS THERE.

WHEN WE ARE READY TO GO OUT AND START SPENDING MONEY AND LIVING OUR LIVES AGAIN.

>> LET ME MOVE TO OUR SECOND TOPIC.

TWO HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK THAT RELATE TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

FIRST THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL THAT BOOSTS WORKERS RIGHTS.

AND THEN DOWN IN ALABAMA, AMAZON WORKERS ARE NOW VOTING ABOUT WHETHER TO UNIONIZE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS BEING WATCHED CLOSELY HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WITH TWO AMAZON WAREHOUSES OPENING HERE SOON.

SO PHIL, I'M WONDERING, IS IT TOO SOON TO SAY LABOR IS BACK?

>> I THINK LABOR IS TRYING TO BE BACK.

I THINK LABOR IS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE STRESSES ON A NUMBER OF SORT OF FRONT LINE WORKERS, HAVE REALLY SORT OF BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING IN INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL, DIFFICULT JOBS FOR VERY LITTLE MONEY AND WITH VERY LITTLE SAY OVER THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS.

SO LABOR IS TRYING TO BE BACK.

I ALSO THINK THERE IS A GENERAL RECOGNITION AMONG DEMOCRATS THAT LABOR IS ESSENTIAL FOR THEIR POLITICAL FUTURE.

THAT THE DEMISE OF LABOR HAS BEEN BAD FOR THE PARTY AND IT'S TIME FOR DEMOCRATS TO START TO BE MORE VOCAL AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE A STATEMENT, DIDN'T MENTION AMAZON, BUT MENTIONED ESSENTIALLY EVERYTHING BUT NAME, THE WORKERS IN ALABAMA AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION.

AND HE DIDN'T CALL FOR THEM TO VOTE FOR THE UNION, BUT IT WAS PRETTY IMPLIED THERE.

I THINK THE BILL HAS SOME, WOULD PROBABLY FACE A LOT OF OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE.

SO I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE ENACTED INTO LAW, BUT I THINK WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE A BIT OF A TURN ON THE PART OF DEMOCRATS TO BE MORE LABOR FRIENDLY THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> I AGREE WITH PHIL THAT, YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY IS GOOD FOR LABOR TO HAVE A FRIEND IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND I THINK THE LEGISLATION THAT THE HOUSE PASSED WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS HELPING THEM ORGANIZE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY STOP CORPORATIONS FROM PUTTING UP SO MANY ROAD BLOCKS TO ORGANIZATION.

BUT, AGAIN, I HESITATE TO SAY THAT LABOR IS BACK.

THE SENATE IS NOT GOING TO PASS THIS.

EVEN THOUGH THE PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS THAT ARE SUPPORTING UNIONS IS BACK TO THE MID 60% RANGE, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS IN THE 70s AND 80s WHEN WE STARTED TO SEE UNION MEMBERSHIP GO DOWN.

WE SAW STATES IMPOSE MORE LIMITS ON THEM.

SO I'M NOT WILLING TO SAY THAT JUST BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF UNIONS, THAT THAT IS GOING TO BRING ABOUT A RESURGENCE, AND PLUS HAVE YOU TO LOOK AT THE COURTS.

IF THERE ARE DISPUTES THAT END UP IN COURT, WE'VE SEEN JUST THE SUPREME COURT IN THE JANICE CASE ENACTED TO PUT LIMITS ON WHAT UNIONS COULD DO TO COLLECT FEES FROM NON-UNION MEMBERS.

SO I THINK THERE ARE STILL SOME PRETTY HARSH HEAD WINDS FOR UNIONS TO OVERCOME AND LABOR TO OVERCOME BEFORE IT IS BACK.

BUT I THINK IT IS A POSITIVE SIGN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR.

>> TARA, I'M WONDERING ABOUT THAT AMAZON, WILL THAT HAVE WIDER IMPLICATIONS?

>> CERTAINLY I THINK LIT HAVE WIDER IMPLICATIONS FOR AMAZON EMPLOYEES.

GOOGLE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEGUN TO UNIONIZE AT VARIOUS GOOGLE OFFICES AND AMAZON EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN IN ALABAMA ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE.

AND AMAZON-- IT IS INTERESTING.

IT IS NOT AS MUCH ABOUT THE WAGES THAT THE WORKERS AT THAT PLANT ARE RECEIVING.

IT'S ABOUT THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND THE HOURS AND THE WAY THEY'RE DEALT WITH WHEN THERE ARE ALLEGED INFRACTIONS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OTHER AMAZON EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEES AT BIG COMPANIES, FEDEXER, ET CETERA, THAT THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO.

THE QUESTION IS WILL A VICTORY AT THAT PARTICULAR PLANT MEAN A RESURGENCE OF LABOR UNIONS OVERALL?

AND I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT IT WILL, PARTIALLY BECAUSE THIS BILL IS PRETTY BROAD AND INCLUDES SOME COMPONENTS THAT ARE OF CONCERN, THE ISSUE ABOUT BEING ABLE TO STRIKE.

FRANCHISEES AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND WHAT THEY CALL SECONDARY STRIKE.

SO THERE ARE COMPONENTS THAT EVEN THOSE WHO ARE PROUNION HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT.

>> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 20th CENTURY, ABOUT 25% OF ALL WORKERS WERE UNION MEMBERS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, POLITICS ASIDE, THAT UNION MEMBERSHIP AND UNION ACTIVITIES WAS A MAJOR REASON WHY WE HAD A VIBRANT MIDDLE CLASS IN AMERICA.

TODAY ONLY ABOUT SO% OF WORKERS ARE UNION MEMBERS AND, INDEED, THE POLL NUMBER THAT RICK CITED THAT MOST PERSONS SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THE UNION MEMBERSHIP AND UNION ACTIVITY AND YOU NEED IT AS A POLITICAL COUNTER WEIGHT AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES, BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE A SITUATION WHERE WE WILL WIND UP BACK AT SOMETHING LIKE 25% OF WORKERS BEING UNION MEMBERS.

THERE ARE TOO MANY NOW INSTITUTIONAL IMPEDIMENTS TO UNION MEMBERSHIP.

AND THIS BILL WILL HAVE TOUGH SAILING IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> RICK, I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE GIG ECONOMY AND HOW THIS AFFECTS THAT?

>> WELL, THE THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED BY THE LAWS WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM MUCH MORE RIGHTS, WOULD HAVE MADE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO ORGANIZE, WOULD HAVE PUT A LOT MORE PRESSURE ON THE UBERS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY DEAL WITH EMPLOYEES.

BUT UNTIL THAT PASSES, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING CHANGING DRAMATICALLY FOR THE GIG WORKERS.

>> CONSUMER PRICES GO UP THROUGH THIS, PHIL?

OF COURSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE SENATE IS GOING TO PASS IT.

>> DOUBTFUL.

AND NO, THERE ISN'T ANY EVIDENCE THAT UNIONIZED FIRMS ARE ESPECIALLY MORE EXPENSIVE IN THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES.

THAN NON-UNIONIZED FIRMS.

IT IS REALLY WHAT IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS.

THE POWER HAS MOVED INTO THE HANDS OF MANAGERS AND OWNERS.

WORKERS HAVE VERY LITTLE SAY ON NOT SO MUCH PAY BUT WORKING CONDITIONS.

I MEAN YOU HAVE EMPLOYERS THAT LIMIT HOW LONG YOU CAN SPEND IN THE BATHROOM OR HOW MANY TIMES YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM DURING THE DAY.

AND IT'S TIME FOR, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WORKERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAY, TO BE ABLE TO BARGAIN ON AN EQUAL BASIS WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS ABOUT WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF WORK ARE GOING TO BE AND THEIR BENEFITS AND PAY.

>> NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION FROM LAST WEEK ABOUT GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

FOUR NEW DEVELOPMENTS SINCE WE TALKED.

ONE MORE WOMAN HAS COME FORWARD WITH ALLEGATIONS.

MORE DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS ARE CALLING FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HIRED TWO OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS TO INVESTIGATE.

AND NOW THE STATE ASSEMBLY IS BEGINNING ITS OWN IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION.

THE GOVERNOR DENIES INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS AND HE HAS ASKED US TO AWAIT THE RESULTS OF THIS A.G. INVESTIGATION.

TARA, INVESTIGATION OR RESIGNATION?

>> I STILL SAY INVESTIGATION.

I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN-- WE'VE GONE WAY TOO FAR THAT FROM THE IDEA THAT A PERSON IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.

RESIGNATION IS AN EASY WAY OUT.

IT IT IS MUCH HARDER FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION OR IF IT COMES TO THAT, THAT TRIAL, AND EITHER PROVE OR DISPROVE THAT THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING.

AND SO TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THE EASY WAY OUT HAS BEEN THE RESIGNATION.

BUT THAT DOESN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

WE ONLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE, WE ONLY REALLY GET THE POINT ACROSS THAT WE STILL SEEM TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET ACROSS THAT NO MEANS NO AND KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF, AS LONG AS MEN OR WOMEN, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S WOMEN, CAN SIMPLY RESIGN.

I SAY LET'S LET THE INVESTIGATIONS ROLL ON.

LET'S GET IT TO A POINT WHERE THERE IS EVIDENCE SHOWN AND LET'S MAKE A DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

AND THAT ISSUE, FOR ME, IS BEYOND CUOMO.

IT'S ABOUT LET'S ADJUDICATE IT.

LET'S GET IT OUT THERE AND OPEN IT UP.

GET THE FACTS AND THEN GO FROM THERE.

BUT THE OTHER THING I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT IS PART OF THIS IS ALSO THE ISSUE OF, AND I LOVE THIS QUOTE, IT'S FROM A FEDERALIST ARTICLE THAT SAYS POWER AND AMBITION HAVE SEEN WEAKNESS AND SMELLED BLOOD.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT IS GOING ON WITH CUOMO.

>> I THIS I WE NEED TO GET ACCUSTOMED TO SAYING GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT POWER IS EBBING AWAY FROM CUOMO BY THE DAY.

I AGREE THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD GO FORWARD, PARTLY BECAUSE I THINKY WITH NEED TO KNOW WITH GREATER PRECISION WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT AND THAT INCLUDES INVESTIGATING THE NURSING HOME BUSINESS AS WELL.

AND THE ONE POLITICAL ADVANTAGE OF CUOMO RESIGNING BEFORE THE END OF HIS TERM-- OBVIOUSLY RUNNING FOR REELECTION IS WAY OFF THE TABLE NOW, IS THAT IT SETS UP KATHY HOCHUL TO BE THE GOVERNOR AND INCUMBENT FOR A PERIOD OF A YEAR BEFORE THE NEXT GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IN 2022.

THERE HAS BEEN RISING TALK ABOUT WHO MIGHT RUN FOR GOVERNOR AT THE END OF CUOMO'S TERM.

PEOPLE LIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL TISCH JAMES AND BILL DE BLASIO, THE OUTGOING MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.

BUT IF CUOMO INDEED IS OUT AND HAS BEEN LET'S SAY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OR SO, THEN THAT FORESTALLS THE POWER SUCCESSION PROBLEM WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> I THINK IT'S TIME TO RESIGN.

THIS IS NOT A CRIMINAL PROCESS.

HE IS NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, ACCUSED AT THIS POINT OF COMMITTING A CRIME.

THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE, YOU KNOW, BEHAVED IN WAYS THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT OF THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.

AND REALLY WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS DISGRACED THE OFFICE.

I THINK AT THIS POINT THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

I THINK AN INVESTIGATION AND IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IS JUST GOING TO DRAG THIS OUT TO NO ONE'S BENEFIT, INCLUDING GOVERNOR CUOMO.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO RESIGN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE ASSEMBLY CAN'T STILL INVESTIGATE THE NURSING HOME SCANDAL.

IT COULD EVEN KEEP INVESTIGATING THE CHARGES TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE NEEDS TO BE A REFERRAL TO PROSECUTOR FOR POSSIBLE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

BUT I THINK IT'S TIME FOR GOVERNOR CUOMO TO GO.

THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER IS DURING IMPEACHMENT, THE LUM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BECOMES THE ACTING GOVERNOR.

SO WE ARE ALREADY KIND OF MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION ANYWAY.

I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE IT OFFICIAL.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH PHIL.

I THINK THAT MOUNTING EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO IS NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE GOVERNOR, AS WAS MENTIONED BY THE PANEL LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, HIS EXPLANATIONS OR APOLOGIES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, WERE TOTALLY INSUFFICIENT AND CERTAINLY DON'T, TO ME, SHOW THAT HE GETS THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS.

CONTINUE LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS BUT I THINK FOR THE GOOD OF THE STATE, I THINK IT'S TIME THAT HE STEPS ASIDE AND WE ALLOW THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO TAKE OVER.

>> BOB SPITZER, WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE STATE?

HOW IS THIS AFFECT AFFECTING THAT?

>> DEMOCRATS ARE DESERTING CUOMO.

THAT HURTS HIM A LOT.

42 OF THE 3 PEBS MEMBERS OF THE STATE SENATE THINK CUOMO SHOULD RESIGN.

THAT'S A BIPARTISAN NUMBER.

THE ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IS FORMALLY OPENING AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE COMMITTEE AND THE STATE ASSEMBLY OBVIOUSLY SO THE DEMOCRATS ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION AS WELL.

REPUBLICANS CERTAINLY SEE AN OPPORTUNITY WE KNOW TOM REED, THE REPUBLICAN FROM WESTERN NEW YORK IS INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE CRISIS RIGHT NOW AND LET'S SAY CUOMO RESIGNS IN A FEW MONTHS OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THAT ALLOWS THE DEMOCRATS TO GET THEIR HOUSE BACK IN ORDER.

BUT IF THE DEMOCRATS FIGHT TOO MUCH AMONGST EACH OTHER, THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> TARA, I WONDER IF THIS WILL HURT THE STATE'S ABILITY TO DO BUSINESS.

WE HAVE A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR COMING UP.

HOW WILL THAT PLAY OUT IF CUOMO IS HANGING IN LIMB LIMBO DURING THE INVESTIGATION?

>> I THINK IT WILL-- LET'S TAKE THE BUSINESS IN TERMS OF OR DEALING WITH OTHER STATES.

CERTAINLY THE CREDIBILITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE CREDIBILITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITHIN NEW YORK WILL BE DAMAGED BECAUSE ALREADY THE QUESTIONS ARE BEING THROWN ABOUT, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS REPUBLICAN, YOU ARE PUSHING VERY STRONGLY FOR IMPEACHMENT, PUSHING STRONGLY FOR INVESTIGATION.

NOW THAT IT'S A DEMOCRAT, YOU DON'T SEEM TO BE AS QUICK TO RESPOND, ALTHOUGH THAT IS VERY CLEARLY CHANGING.

SO I CERTAINLY THINK IT COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT BECAUSE NEW YORK'S STATE ASSEMBLY WILL LOOK LIKE A HYPOCRITE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVING TOWARDS BOTH THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND THE STATE JUDICIARY INVESTIGATION, IT DOES SHOW THAT ACTION IS BEING TAKEN.

BASICALLY, WHAT IT DOES DO, HOWEVER, IS IT MAKES CUOMO A NON-PLAYER IN THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE BUDGET AND THAT REALLY MIGHT ACTUALLY OPEN UP THE ABILITY OF DEMOCRATS WITHIN THE STATE ASSEMBLY TO ACHIEVE SOME THINGS THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR.

>> TARA, IT'S TIME TO WRAP THIS PART UP AND GO TO THE GRADE BOOKS.

TELL US WHO GETS YOUR F THIS WEEK.

>> WELL, MY F THIS WEEK GOES TO SWIFT VOTERS WHO BY A SLIM MAJORITY VOTED TO BAN THE WEARING OF BIRKA'S IN PUBLIC IN SWITZERLAND.

THIS IS PART OF AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN TO LIMIT ANY PUBLIC PRACTICE, ANYTHING THAT SHOWS YOU ARE MUSLIM IN PUBLIC TO LIMIT THAT TO PRIVATE SPACES.

>> AND RICK, HOW ABOUT YOUR F?

>> MY F TO TIM AL EN, COMEDIAN OF HOME IMPROVEMENT FAME WHO SAID IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FOX NEWS "ONCE I STARTED MAKING MONEY, I HAD THIS SILENT PARTNER, THE GOVERNMENT.

IT TOOK ALMOST HALF MY MONEY AND NEVER GAVE ME ANYTHING FOR IT.

TIM MADE HIS MILLIONS TO A LARGE DEGREE BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

TELEVISION SHOW IS BROADCAST OVER THE PUBLIC AIR WAYS, NOW ON CABLE WHICH USED EMINENT DOMAIN TO HAVE ITS CABLES LAID THROUGH EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY WITHOUT PERMISSION OR COMPENSATION.

WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S HELP YOU WOULDN'T HAVE EARNED NEARLY THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCUMULATE.

>> PHIL,.

>> MY F TO SENATOR ROGER WHEN I CANNER OF MISSISSIPPI, WEDNESDAY HE SENT OUT A TWEET TOUTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SUPPORT FLOWING TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IN THE BIDEN STIMULUS PACKAGE.

THERE IS ONLY ONE PROBLEM.

SENATOR WHEN I CANNER VOTED AGAINST THE BILL.

YOU DON'T GET TO TAKE CREDIT FOR BILLS YOU OPPOSED.

>> BOB SPITZER, YOUR F. >> AN F TO WESTERN NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE TOM REED REPUBLICAN IN CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN WILL BARALLY WHO SAID P THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL 15,000 COVID RELATED NURSING HOME DEATHS THIS YEAR.

THE ACTUAL NUMBER TRACEABLE TO CUOMO'S DECISION A YEAR AGO WAS IN THE HUNDREDS WAS BAD BUT NOT ANYWHERE NEAR 15,000.

AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THESE TWO GUYS TO LIE ABOUT THAT NUMBER ABOUT CUOMO BECAUSE THERE IS PLENTY OF LEGITIMATE FACTUAL INFORMATION TO BASE CRITICISMS OF CUOMO ON.

>> THE AS NOW.

TARA.

>> TO PART TIME JANITOR AND ALL TIME GOOD SAMARITAN OF MIAMI FLORIDA.

DARMISE.

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF HER CATHOLIC CHURCH, THIS 60-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER AND WHO DID NOT Dr. A CAR UNTIL LAST MONTH, HAS BROUGHT GROCERIES AND PREPARED 1,000 MEALS EACH WEEK FOR INDIVIDUALS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> RICK, YOUR A.

>> JULIAN EDELMAN OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.

HE EDELMAN WHO IS JEWISH AND DOESN'T KNOW LEONARD OFFERED TO MEET HIM IN MIAMI TO EDUCATE HIM ABOUT THE WORD.

PERHAPS THE BEST WAY TO ATTACH THE I GO NRNS AND HATE IS ONE ON ONE.

>> 10 SECONDS, PHIL.

>> MINE GOES TO THE U.S.

SENATORS WHO WANT TO MAKE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME PERMANENT.

ANYTHING TO GIVE US MORE EVENING SUNLIGHT IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IS WORTH AN A.

>> AN A TO THE SYRACUSE POST STANDARD FOR LAST SUNDAY'S TERRIFIC EXAMINATION OF THE COVID-19 NURSING HOME DEATHS IN NEW YORK.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GREAT REPORTING BY THE SYRACUSE POST STANDARD.

>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

IT'S TIME TO CLOSE.

IF YOU WANT TO WRITE US, AT DRESSES ARE ON THE SCREEN AND YOU CAN JOIN US ANY FRIDAY AND IF YOU MISS FRIDAY, SATURDAYS AT 5:30.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND GOOD NIGHT.

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