Cuomo: ‘Height Of Hypocrisy’ If Lawmakers Don’t Approve Women’s Agenda

Not passing his 10-point women’s agenda in the wake of the Vito Lopez sexual harassment would be the “height of hypocrisy,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this afternoon in a Red Room question-and-answer session. “I think it would be the height of hypocrisy for a body that just recognized the problem up close and personal within their own colleagues and to not take action,” Cuomo said.

Cuomo this afternoon called for the resignation of Lopez, adding that if the he doesn’t — and Lopez has given no indication he’ll do that — the Democratic-led chamber should begin proceedings to expel him. The women’s agenda is most discussed in terms of the provision that Cuomo says would codify the Roe versus Wade decision, but opponents believe will expand abortion rights to an uncomfortable degree. But the agenda — which is yet to be released in bill form — also includes measures aimed at curbing violence against women, discrimination in housing and the workforce and human trafficking.

The governor told reporters at the Q-and-A that changes need to be made to the procedure for handling sexual harassment claims in the Assembly. “Whatever procedures they have have to be dramatically reformed because this can’t be allowed to happen again,” Cuomo said.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is fending off calls for resignation — mostly from Republicans and editorial boards — after the report was released that showed he pushed early on for a confidential settlement with Lopez’s victims. Cuomo didn’t want to weigh in on whether Silver should resign. But he agreed that the situation was poorly handled and mismanaged by the Assembly leadership. “I think people have the right to expect, change the rules so this doesn’t happen again or change the rules the best you can to prevent it from happening again,” Cuomo said.

The Lopez scandal — along with the graphic details involving young women working in government – was especially personal for him as a father, Cuomo said. “I have three young daughters who would love to work in the government, volunteer in government so I relate from that way also,” he said.

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