Assemblyman Chris Tague (R,C,I,Ref-Schoharie) is calling on the governor to reverse cuts made to state funding for substance abuse treatments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo used his emergency powers to make this funding cut unilaterally, and Tague believes this is a gross abuse of power that will hurt many New Yorkers who are suffering from addiction as well as their families.

“During a pandemic is not the time to give up on our neighbors suffering from substance abuse problems,” said Tague. “The fight against addiction has been harder than ever, as people have been stuck at home, in many cases losing their jobs and feeling hopeless. This is a disastrous decision, and another example of the danger of allowing the governor to make law on a whim. Our Legislature is supposed to utilize its constitutional role to serve as a check on heartless actions such as this, and it is past time his overreaching powers come to an end and we return to a constitutional, representative government. We cannot abandon our most vulnerable at a time when they need our help most, and I implore our governor to reverse these cuts. Some seem to have forgotten about the opioid addiction crisis amidst this pandemic, but none of us, especially our governor, should put aside the real suffering of those who are addicted and their families even during these unprecedented times.”