BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - With growing anticipation that many Covid restrictions will be ending across the state, a state senate leader says don't look for them to be lifted entirely.
State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said the reason some restrictions will remain is because a state of emergency remains in effect and Governor Andrew Cuomo has broad emergency powers.
Will lawmakers be called back to Albany? "I have no reason to believe my colleagues in the Democratic majority are willing to do that," said Ortt. Lawmakers adjourned for the session late last week.
"Look back over the past six months or year, there has been no effort, absent Republican pressure, and no desire to take away the governor's emergency powers." Those powers would have expired on April 30 had the legislature not extended them and tied them to the State of Emergency.
"Most people would agree that the emergency has passed," said Ortt
"I don't think people feel like they're living under a state of emergency.
There were 15 thousand people watching the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. There were 20-thousand watching the New York Knicks playoff game. People are going to Blue Jays baseball games. Most people would agree we're not in a state of emergency. "
The State Legislature is not scheduled to return until January of 2022. Ortt says with remote capabilities and technology, there is no reason that they can't "return to session" anytime to vote on a resolution to end the state of emergency. But he is not optimistic. "Based on what I've seen over the past year, Democrats have been unwilling to do the job that I believe voters elected them to do and to reign this governor in."
Is it possible that the governor would relinquish the powers anytime soon?
"It's hard for me to believe that the governor will, in the near future, give those up powers. There's nothing I've seen that would lead me to believe that he would voluntarily give the powers back," said Ortt. "The legislature ultimately has to declare an end to the state of emergency, or this will go on until the Fall or even into 2022."
The state is closing in on a major benchmark for reopening. Governor Andrew Cuomo has said when the state hits a 70% vaccination rate for first doses, most restrictions will end. As of Monday morning, the state was at 69.7%.
A 70% vaccination rate would lift capacity restrictions, social-distancing rules, health screenings and contact tracing. But restrictions would still remain at large venues, public schools, health care settings, correctional facilities and public transit.
