Cuomo To U.S. Senate: Do Your Job


February 18, 2016

By NYS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

Albany, NY – We have all seen the effects of a Washington gridlock. Whether it’s increasing the federal minimum wage, sensible protections from gun violence or common sense immigration reform, partisan fighting has paralyzed government and stalled progress.

The Beltway bickering has now stooped to a new low that threatens one of the basic foundations of our democracy – an independent judicial branch.

Just hours after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that the vacancy should not be filled until next year. And the wave of political posturing began, with Republican presidential candidates quickly jumping on the bandwagon.

In New York, we have cast aside partisan politics and accomplished many successes over the past five years. While we don’t expect Washington to change its ways overnight – especially not in an election year – we do have a message to deliver to Republicans in the Senate:

Do your job.