BUFFALO (WBEN) - On Thursday afternoon, Erie County Legislator Joe Lorigo introduced a resolution calling on the County Attorney to file a lawsuit against Governor Cuomo for his excessive use of executive orders, especially in regard to the recent mandate that requires food purchases at bars and restaurants when buying alcohol.
However, the part of the resolution forcing action by the County Attorney did not pass.
"My colleagues did support the symbolic parts of the resolution that opposed the situation, but they're afraid to challenge the governor," said Lorigo. "We could have taken decisive action; we could have sent a strong message that in Erie County, we don't believe that this is right, that we don't believe this is how the governor should be acting, and could have acted as a check on his power, and my colleagues across the aisle said, 'No, we're okay with it.'
"I think that's what's most disappointing to me - they support the idea, but they don't want to challenge the governor."
"I think a lawsuit would be frivolous because I don't think it would garner a change in the governor's approach to how he's handling it," said Johnson. "I think if you go and sue, but will that effectively force him to make a change?"