Andy, Chuck scrap over disaster aid

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo took a jab at Sen. Chuck Schumer on Sunday after balking at federal stimulus funds meant to lift the economic burden of the coronavirus crisis.

The governor said he has no plans to abandon his Medicaid overhaul to accept $6.7 billion in emergency money that would offset health care costs associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. “I say to Sen. Schumer, it would be nice if he passed a piece of legislation that actually helped the state of New York,” Cuomo said.

The pair of democrats have publicly bickered over the measure, one of several stimulus packages recently passed by Congress, because the law prevents states from restructuring Medicaid and would derail the governor’s controversial proposal to make the city and local governments responsible for any spending increases over 3% in a year.

“It disqualified this state from funding, and he knew that when he passed it,” the governor said of the Senate minority leader.

Hours later, Schumer (inset bottom) said he had a conversation with Cuomo (inset top) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) about future funding.

“We agreed that there is significant money for New York in the bills we passed, but that much more is needed, and we will continue to work together to make that happen, and to fix New York State’s [emergency Medicaid] issue as well,” Schumer said.

Cuomo said he had no choice but to reject the initial emergency money because his plan will save the state $2.5 billion a year, whereas the federal funds are only available during the coronavirus crisis.

“$2.5 billion, per year, recurring, is worth more than $6 billion one shot,” he added, noting that the majority of the $6 billion would go to local governments anyway.