Cuomo wants federal money to help cover $30 billion dollar budget deficit

The state of New York faces a budget deficit of $30 billion over the next two years thanks to the COVID-19 crisis, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday it’s up to the federal government to fill it.

Without that help, Cuomo told reporters that funding for local governments and hospitals would take a significant hit. Education will too, unless the federal bill requires states to fully fund education. His comments come a day after Senate Republicans in Washington revealed details of their latest COVID-19 relief package proposal, called the HEALS Act.

Cuomo sent a letter to the state’s congressional delegation urging them to push for $500 billion in unrestricted state aid that the National Governor’s Association is calling on Congress to pass, and he wants them to fight for every dollar they can get for New York.

With no federal funding, the state faces 20 percent cuts to education, health care and funding for cities and counties.

“The way we did the state budget this year is we basically had a big hole financially, and then we had a hole in terms of what the revenues would be because the revenues in large part are going to be the revenues that are provided by this federal bill,” Cuomo said.

“There have been several attempts at this federal legislation," he added. "None of them have adequately served the state of New York, and they frankly have been politically motivated and they've shorted the state of New York. This is the last bill that they'll probably get done, and this is going to be the determinative bill.”

In his letter to the delegation, Cuomo noted the state has received $25,000 for every COVID-19 case while Alaska has received $2.5 million for each one.

While the Senate Republicans plan to spend about $1 trillion, House Democrats' proposed spending bill has about a $3 trillion price tag. It’ll be up to the chambers to reach consensus. Cuomo said the state’s delegation will be led by U. S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, and U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.

In addition to getting funding for the state, Cuomo also wants to see the final bill restore the state and local income tax e... (Read more)

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