Correct Success: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo will defer his raise amid pandemic

Declare: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo is giving himself a increase in the midst of a pandemic

With winter approaching, COVID-19 raging and employment rising, cash is on America’s thoughts. With that, one of many nation’s highest paid governors, New York’s Andrew Cuomo, is going through criticism for a increase he didn’t take.

“Andrew Cuomo is giving himself a increase, regardless of already being the very best paid governor in America, whereas he locks down his state, placing tens of millions out of labor,” falsely claims a meme Elizabeth Johnston posted to Fb Nov. 20.

Johnston is a Christian social media character whom USA TODAY has truth checked earlier than.

The meme attributes the assertion to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who tweeted in the evening on Nov. 18. .

Turning Level USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet informed USA TODAY he was “unaware of the replace” and referred to as the oversight “an trustworthy mistake.”

Nevertheless, Kirk wasn’t the one one to make this error. A number of different shops and social media customers posted the identical declare.

Whereas Cuomo was scheduled to obtain an annual pay improve, he didn’t give himself the increase and introduced he would defer it two days earlier than Johnston posted the declare.

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Johnston has but to responded to USA TODAY’s request for remark.

He is not going to be taking the increase

Cuomo introduced on Nov. 18 that he wouldn’t be taking the $25,000 pay increase he was scheduled to obtain. State lawmakers permitted of the annual wage improve in 2019. He doesn’t determine his raises himself.

“I’m going to ask the commissioners, myself, the opposite electeds to not take a increase this 12 months,” he mentioned at a Nov. 18 press convention.

Richard Azzopardi, Cuomo’s senior adviser, confirmed to USA TODAY the governor wouldn’t be taking his scheduled increase in January.

“Given the state of the economic system, given the truth that we have deferred pay raises for organized labor workforce, the governor did not assume it was acceptable to take the rise that was going to enter impact in January,” he mentioned.

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The announcement comes after a state panel beneficial on Nov. 16 that New York lawmakers defer pay raises till 2024 to offset the state debt within the wake of COVID-19. The panel’s suggestions didn’t apply to Cuomo as a result of the New York state Structure stipulates lawmakers determine the pay of the governor and lieutenant governor moderately than the fee.

“Granting raises to public servants, irrespective of how a lot they could in any other case deserve them, is solely not potential right now,” wrote the Fee on Legislative, Judicial and Govt Compensation.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has urged New Yorkers to wear masks.

The increase would have introduced Cuomo’s annual wage from $225,00 to $250,000. He seemingly is the highest-paid governor within the nation.

All statewide politicians had been scheduled for pay raises, however Cuomo introduced he would ask them to defer their raises, too. Azzopardi informed USA TODAY that whether or not these state officers defer their raises can be voluntary, however he mentioned the comptroller, legal professional common and lieutenant governor have already agreed.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s latest book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic,” was released Tuesday.

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Except for his wage, Cuomo earns earnings from his 2020 ebook “American Disaster: Management Classes from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” He has repeatedly declined to say what he’s created from the ebook, which debuted at No. 7 on The New York Instances’ mixed print and e-book nonfiction greatest vendor listing. As a substitute, he mentioned the income shall be obtainable on his annual monetary disclosure types due in spring 2021.

In Could, USA TODAY truth checked related claims that Cuomo and New York legislators had voted to extend their salaries through the pandemic and corresponding monetary disaster.

Our ruling: False

We price the declare that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has given himself a increase within the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic FALSE as a result of it’s not supported by our analysis. Statements from Cuomo and his senior adviser verify he has deferred a $25,000 increase that 2019 lawmakers set for January. Additional, the New York governor does not grant raises, the state’s lawmakers try this.

Our fact-check sources:

USA TODAY, Nov. 25, “US jobless claims rise to 778,000 as pandemic worsens”
Elizabeth Johnston, Nov. 20, Fb Submit
USA TODAY, Nov. 24, “Reality test: Trump lawyer Sidney Powell falsely said he received election ‘by a landslide'”
Charlie Kirk, Nov. 18, Tweet
Objectivist, Nov. 19, “Gov. Cuomo To Obtain $25Ok Pay Increase Amid Pandemic”
Chicks on the Proper, Nov. 23, Instagram Submit
The Journal Information, Nov. 18, “Andrew Cuomo says he’ll defer pay increase, ask others to do the identical”
The Journal Information, Nov. 16, “Andrew Cuomo will get a increase in 2021, however lawmakers will not. This is why.”
The Journal Information, April 1, 2019, “This is how a lot Andrew Cuomo will get paid as New York governor”
Democrat & Chronicle, Oct. 22, “Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 ebook sells 11,800 copies, lands on greatest sellers listing”
Democrat & Chronicle, Aug. 19, “Gov. Cuomo refuses to disclose monetary particulars of COVID ebook deal, vows contribution to charity”
USA TODAY, Could 1, “Reality test: New York legislators didn’t simply vote a pay increase through the coronavirus shutdown”