Lee Zeldin? Marcus Molinaro? Elise Stefanik? Harry Wilson? Tom Reed? With Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in the midst of a political imbroglio over nursing homes, Republicans are beginning to jockey for position over who challenge Cuomo in 2022. (TU)
Cuomo announced a relaxation of visitation rules for nursing homes, a policy that critics had targeted in contrast to sporting events, casinos or other entertainment venues being allowed to open. (TU)
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In the governor’s budget proposal, the Enhanced STAR, or extra break for middle class seniors, would no longer come in the form of an automatic reduction in school taxes for those who qualify. Instead, new Enhanced STAR participants, starting this year, would have to proactively sign up for the program. (TU)
President Joseph R. Biden said last spring that Cuomo represented the “gold standard” of pandemic leadership. His press secretary was asked Sunday whether Biden still believes that, but she demurred. Read the full exchange here. (TU)
A controversial March 25 directive that required nursing homes to accept residents discharged from hospitals even if they were positive for COVID-19 potentially increased deaths by “a few hundred to maybe over 1,000,” a report by the Empire Center for Public Policy said. (TU)
Read here about the exit of the chairman of New York’s Joint Committee on Public Ethics, who resigned suddenly last week and was replaced with a Cuomo loyalist. (TU)
Cuomo and his top aide Melissa DeRosa claimed that an international infectious disease expert routinely consulted with the governor. Then he went on TV and said that was untrue. (TU)
The Capitol Confidential team: