Cuomo Says He Won't Get in Middle of 'Intramural' Senate Fight

Governor Andrew Cuomo made it clear Wednesday that he continues to have no interest in inserting himself into what he described as an “intramural” political fight between senate Democratic factions.

He also fired a shot across the bow of Republicans balking at a number of his agenda items for the upcoming session.

“It is not my place as a governor to get involved in a Democratic power squabble — struggle — call it whatever you will,” Cuomo said, speaking to Fred Dicker on WGDJ Wednesday.

Cuomo has faced criticism from liberals for not being more supportive of Senate Democrats.

The breakaway Independent Democratic Conference is set to join forces with the now-minority Senate Republicans as part of a power-sharing agreement between Republican leader Dean Skelos and Democrat Jeff Klein, who leads the Democratic faction.

Initially, the agreement came with a joint statement from Klein and Skelos who spoke of a “commitment to working with Governor Cuomo on progressive policy issues that benefit all New Yorkers in the next legislative session.”

But on Tuesday, the newly re-elected leader of the Senate GOP walked back his previously stated support for some of the top priorities for both Cuomo and Senate Democrats. Skelos, who has called raising the minimum wage in New York a “job killer,” said on Tuesday that he was “not prepared to give an answer” on whether he still held that position.

A day later, Cuomo took a hard line on anyone opposed to enacting his legislative priorities in the upcoming session.

"They are wrong to oppose campaign finance reform. They are wrong to oppose the minimum wage. They are wrong to oppose reforming the stop-and-frisk polices of this state,” Cuomo said. “And I will do everything in my power to get that agenda passed."