As the Senate passed the bipartisan $2 trillion stimulus bill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. was being put on blast by a fellow lawmaker.
But this time, the criticism isn’t coming from a Republican — it’s from a growing voice inside of his own left-wing camp.
And experts warn that the brewing rift could delay the so-called “Trump Checks” that are meant to provide America economic relief during the coronavirus pandemic.
Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has become a COVID-19 leader in the media, has started attacking Schumer’s efforts on the home front.
Cuomo told Schumer he was leaving New Yorkers out to rot.
The New York governor claimed that the Senate relief bill passed Thursday would be “terrible” for New Yorkers.
New York State and New York City have become America’s hotbed for the virus outbreak in the last week. As of Mar. 26, the NYC Health Department confirmed more than 20,000 cases in the city. The virus is also spreading through the NYPD with more than 350 cases confirmed.
The situation in the “City that Never Sleeps” is becoming unstable — and Cuomo said Schumer isn’t doing enough on the federal level to help.
Cuomo said the $3.8 billion in disaster funding allocated in the Senate relief bill for New York falls short of what is needed.
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But Schumer, a native New Yorker, isn’t listening.
He pushed back on Cuomo’s complaints about receiving more money.
“He’s disappointed that it only got 5 billion dollars for the state government,” Schumer explained, visibly frustrated. “But there are small businesses in New York who need money, there are unemployed people who need money, there are hospitals who need money, there are nurses who need money.”
He also insisted that when the bill is signed by President Donald Trump, New York will have received $100 billion in relief support when the totals are counted up.
The exchange of words may be a sign of things to come between Schumer and Cuomo as the virus ravages on in New York.
The Hill notes that Cuomo’s pleas may disrupt the House from passing the deal through quickly.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the rest of the House members are expected to vote on the Senate bill Friday.
The Horn editorial team