Omar Bennett
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been the subject of petitions accusing him of taking away the constitutional rights of Americans. Cuomo has been criticized for his stance on gun control, with some characterizing him as one of the toughest gun control legislators. He has also been criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding nursing home deaths. However, Cuomo has also been praised for his efforts to pass same-sex marriage legislation and for signing a bill to restore voting rights to people on parole. Cuomo's political career has included roles as Governor of New York, Attorney General of New York, and Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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What You'll Learn
Andrew Cuomo's political positions
Andrew Cuomo's political career has spanned roles as Governor of New York, Attorney General of New York, and Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. His political positions have evolved over time, with some remaining consistent while others have changed.
Cuomo gained national prominence for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic as Governor of New York. New York was severely impacted by the virus, and Cuomo advocated for restrictions to combat it. He also clashed with President Donald Trump, criticising the federal government's response to the pandemic. One of his notable actions during this time was issuing an advisory in March 2020, requiring nursing homes to admit patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and barring the testing of prospective nursing home patients. This decision, along with the intentional delay in releasing data on nursing home deaths, sparked controversy and led to calls for the rescinding of his emergency powers.
Cuomo is known for his strong support for gun control legislation, describing himself as one of the toughest legislators on this issue. He has repeatedly highlighted New York as a model for gun control laws and pushed for similar measures at the national level. His budget in 2020 included six new gun control bills. Cuomo has also been a proponent of same-sex marriage legislation and has ordered boycotts of states with anti-LGBT laws.
On social issues, Cuomo supported raising the minimum wage as Governor. He announced a phase-in plan to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15. Additionally, he is a strong advocate for paid family leave and played a pivotal role in getting a family leave policy passed in New York. He has also consistently supported the right to choose and expressed his views on late-term abortions, stating that he only supports them in cases of non-viable fetuses.
Cuomo's stance on drug policy has evolved over time. In 2016, he received a C- rating from NORML, indicating hardline anti-drug positions. However, by 2020, his rating improved to an A, reflecting a more liberal approach to drug policy.
Cuomo's career has also been marked by controversies and scandals. He faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment and was found by a state investigation to have harassed 11 women, which he denied. Additionally, he was criticised for his handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes and for a $5 million book deal about his response to the pandemic. These scandals led to his resignation in 2021. Despite this, Cuomo remains a prominent figure in New York politics and is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for New York City Mayor in 2025.
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Gun control legislation
Governor Andrew Cuomo has been characterized as one of the toughest gun-control legislators in the United States. He has repeatedly touted New York as a model for gun-control legislation and has pushed for national gun-control legislation in the same vein. In 2020, Cuomo's budget included six new gun control bills, and more than two dozen sat in the state legislature.
Cuomo has advanced legislation to keep guns away from individuals who pose a danger. Under his leadership, New York has passed the SAFE Act, which keeps guns out of the hands of convicted felons and individuals with a mental illness, ensures private gun sales are subject to a background check, bans high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, and toughens criminal penalties for illegal gun use. The SAFE Act also targets the link between domestic abuse and deadly gun violence.
Cuomo has also advanced legislation to establish a ten-day waiting period for individuals who are not immediately approved to purchase a firearm through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This builds on federal law, which requires gun dealers to conduct a NICS background check on a potential purchaser prior to selling a firearm, which provides the dealer with one of three possible notifications: "proceed", "denied", or "delayed". In the case of a "delayed" response, the dealer must wait three days before the sale is eligible to go through, even though the FBI continues to investigate these individuals past the three-day timeframe.
Cuomo has also signed legislation holding gun manufacturers accountable and closing harmful gun sale loopholes. This legislation allows the public to hold gun manufacturers liable for their products creating a public nuisance and prohibits the sale of firearms to anyone with an outstanding warrant for a felony or serious offense.
In addition, Cuomo has signed legislation banning undetectable guns and expanding firearm safe storage laws to protect children. This legislation criminalizes the manufacture, sale, transport, and possession of firearms and major components of such weapons that are undetectable by a metal detector, including 3D-printed guns. It also expands the law to require that firearms remain safely stored when accessible by children.
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Voting rights
The Act also outlines the need to protect the right of voters to have their ballot cast and counted, ensuring that eligible voters are not impaired in registering to vote. It further ensures that voters from minority groups have equitable access to the electoral process, from registration to voting. The law states that policies and practices that create unnecessary obstacles to voting rights must be avoided. Any such policies or practices must be justified by a compelling policy reason, supported by substantial evidence.
In 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo demonstrated his support for voting rights by signing a bill to restore voting rights to people upon release from prison. This bill, S.830, meant that New York joined 18 other states with similar laws automatically restoring voting rights to citizens after their release from prison. This move was seen as a positive step towards welcoming those impacted as full participants in society and addressing racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
Additionally, Governor Cuomo took action in 2018 by using his pardon power to individually restore voting rights to most New Yorkers on parole. This move further solidified the state's commitment to ensuring that all eligible citizens have the right to participate in the electoral process.
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LGBTQ+ rights
Governor Andrew Cuomo has been a national leader in championing LGBTQ+ rights. In 2011, he led the historic charge to make New York State the first large state to pass marriage equality. Since then, Governor Cuomo has continued to lead the nation in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
In 2015, Governor Cuomo issued statewide regulations under the State's Human Rights Law that prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender identity and transgender status. In 2016, he announced multi-agency regulations to ban the practice of conversion therapy on minors. The Department of Financial Services issued regulations preventing insurers from providing coverage for conversion therapy for individuals under the age of 18, the Department of Health prohibited coverage of the practice under New York's Medicaid program, and the Office of Mental Health restricted facilities under its jurisdiction from using the treatment on minors.
In 2019, Governor Cuomo signed into law the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which added gender identity and gender expression as protected categories in New York State’s Human Rights Law. On the one-year anniversary of GENDA, Governor Cuomo launched a statewide public awareness campaign to ensure that all New Yorkers know their rights under the law.
Governor Cuomo has also taken a stand against anti-LGBTQ+ laws in other states. In 2015, he ordered a boycott of Indiana and North Carolina to protest their anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
Governor Cuomo has been praised by LGBTQ+ advocates for his efforts to pass same-sex marriage legislation and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Senator Brad Hoylman expressed his gratitude for Governor Cuomo's "historic and steadfast support of LGBTQ New Yorkers." Glennda Testone, Executive Director of NYC's LGBT Community Center, also acknowledged the significance of Governor Cuomo's actions, stating that "the ban on conversion therapy practices [signals] that New York State is ready to be a true progressive leader that supports and affirms transgender, gender nonconforming and nonbinary New Yorkers."
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Abortion rights
Governor Andrew Cuomo has been a vocal supporter of abortion rights in New York, particularly in response to efforts by the federal government to roll back Roe v. Wade. In 2019, he defended the state's new abortion-rights law, known as the Reproductive Health Act, which codifies Roe v. Wade into state law. This act expands the type of healthcare practitioners who can perform abortions and permits late-term abortions if the mother's health is at risk or the fetus is non-viable. Cuomo has emphasised that the law does not deviate from the federal standard and that late-term abortions are rare, accounting for about 1% of all abortions.
Cuomo has faced criticism from pro-life groups and religious institutions, such as the Catholic Church, for his stance on abortion. Despite this, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to protecting women's reproductive rights and ensuring their ability to make personal healthcare decisions. He has stated that the Reproductive Health Act recognises reproductive healthcare as a fundamental right and strengthens a woman's ability to decide what is right for her.
In addition to defending the Reproductive Health Act, Cuomo has also taken a proactive approach to safeguarding abortion rights in New York. He promised to pass critical legislation within the first 30 days of the new legislative session in 2019, and he fulfilled this promise by signing the Reproductive Health Act into law. This act was designed to protect women's reproductive rights and ensure their autonomy in making personal healthcare decisions, including the ability to access abortion services.
Cuomo's support for abortion rights aligns with his broader political positions, which are generally characterised as liberal and progressive. For instance, he has also advocated for gun control legislation, same-sex marriage, and paid family leave. His stance on abortion rights has been a key component of his political agenda and a defining feature of his governorship in New York.
Cuomo's defence of abortion rights has placed him in opposition to critics such as President Donald Trump, who has called for a ban on late-term abortions. Cuomo has characterised Trump's position as an attack on women's rights and accused him of spreading lies about the Reproductive Health Act. He has also pushed back against attempts by Senate Republicans in Albany to pass measures that would require record-keeping of abortions and potentially impede women's access to reproductive healthcare.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear whether Gov. Cuomo supports or opposes a constitutional referendum.
Gov. Cuomo is a Democrat.
Gov. Cuomo's political priorities include raising the minimum wage, gun control, and protecting civil rights.
Yes, Gov. Cuomo has been involved in controversies related to his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding nursing home deaths.
