New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Monday she does not intend to renew her emergency powers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which allowed the governor to bypass normal contracting procedures under an executive order.
We're feeling comfortable that we can suspend them., Hochul says she will allow both to expire. That means her administration will have to revert to the normal buying rules — which, in many cases, include potentially time-consuming safeguards like taking competitive bids and submitting contracts to the state Comptroller’s Office for review.
While the governor has said her administration has been following the state’s contracting rules in recent months, she has faced criticism — particularly from her Republican foes, including gubernatorial opponent Rep. Lee Zeldin — for using her emergency powers to bypass them last winter. Along with the executive order related to purchasing, Hochul suggested she will also allow the second order to expire as scheduled Sept. 27. Among other things, that order allowed out-of-state health care workers to work in New York regardless of where they’re licensed, along with allowing paramedics to issue the COVID vaccine.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New York declares a state of emergency over polioNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to poliovirus, which has been detected since April in wastewater from four counties plus New York City.
Read more »
Gov. Hochul’s COVID emergency powers expire soon. Will she extend them?The first of two COVID emergency orders expires on Monday. The Democratic governor hasn’t said whether she will extend them again.
Read more »
Lee Zeldin trails Kathy Hochul by only 6 points in NY governor’s race: pollThere are rays of hope for Zeldin, the underdog in a state where Democratic candidates benefit from a huge party enrollment advantage in statewide races.
Read more »
New COVID-19 booster shots roll into central Pa.; here’s what you need to knowThey offer the first protection specifically targeting evolved versions of COVID-19.
Read more »