For the past few days, Cuomo had been enduring some negative press coverage for Medicaid cuts to hospitals during a pandemic: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/nyregion/coronavirus-hospitals-medicaid-budget.html

Those">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/3... cuts would also have jeopardized New York& #39;s access to $6.5 billion in federal emergency Medicaid assistance.
His response? Defer the Medicaid cuts until after the pandemic passes, allowing him to get both the federal billions *and* enact $2.5 billion in annual cuts (albeit later on).

This is in a Democratic trifecta state where Democrats control both legislative chambers.
Incidentally, Robert Mujica, Cuomo& #39;s budget director, previously worked for state Senate Republicans when they controlled the chamber. https://hcr.ny.gov/robert-mujica-bio-0">https://hcr.ny.gov/robert-mu...
Another important Cuomo priority: Raising the threshold for third parties to get on the ballot from 50,000 in last Gov race to the greater of 130,000 or 2% in last Gov *and* presidential elections.

Only the Conservative Party would meet that standard based on 2018 performance.
The new rule is designed to screw the @NYWFP.

But the situation would be worse for them without their 2018 victories.

Of the 5 Senate Democrats who voted down the budget, 4 were 2018 insurgent candidates (3 were IDC ousters).
Opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy is the defining policy stance of Cuomo& #39;s three terms as governor.

He could be emulating past NY governors who raised taxes in crisis. But he watered down a "millionaire& #39;s tax" he inherited in 2011: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/nyregion/cuomo-and-legislative-leaders-agree-on-tax-deal.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/0...
This is exactly what advocates fear: That Cuomo& #39;s new press conference-driven popularity actually makes him more comfortable cutting social programs. There& #39;s less of a political cost. https://twitter.com/RossBarkan/status/1246083643254157314">https://twitter.com/RossBarka...
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