New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced in a Monday statement her intention to push for term limits for a number of state government positions, including her own.
Hochul's statement contradicts the actions of the state's previous governor, Andrew Cuomo, who stepped down in August following sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo had been re-elected to a third four-year term in 2018. Hochul did not mention Cuomo in her statement.
Hochul said she would propose an amendment to the state's constitution that would implement a limit of two terms for governors, lieutenant governors, attorneys general and comptrollers.
The amendment would also stop allowing those officials to make money outside of their government salaries, though there would be an exception for academic jobs that would have to be approved by an ethics board.
In order for the legislation to pass, the state legislature and New Yorkers would need to vote in favor of it. Hochul is expected to go into more detail about her plan during her State of the State address on Wednesday.
In her statement, Hochul said the legislation is aimed at rebuilding the public's trust in the state government.
"On day one as governor, I pledged to restore trust in government and I have taken steps every day to deliver the open, ethical governing New Yorkers deserve," Hochul said. "I want people to believe in their government again. With these bold reforms, we will ensure New Yorkers know their leaders work for them and are focused on serving the people of this state."
Cuomo, a Democrat, was elected to a third term in 2018—a feat his father, former Governor Mario M. Cuomo, and several other governors achieved. But Andrew Cuomo didn't finish his third term, stepping down after an investigation from the state attorney general concluded he had sexually harassed 11 women.
Cuomo has attacked the investigation as inaccurate and biased, denying he mistreating women and saying he resigned to avoid subjecting the state to turmoil.
Cuomo's spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, did not immediately respond to a message from the Associated Press seeking comment.
Cuomo was set to earn $5.1 million for writing a book about his leadership during COVID-19, and was paid a $3.1 million advance. The state ethics commission initially approved the book deal but rescinded approval after concluding Cuomo used state property, resources and personnel to write the book.
Cuomo has acknowledged that state employees helped with tasks including editing the manuscript. But he said the employees were volunteering their private time.
New York's Joint Commission on Public Ethics is seeking to have Cuomo turn over to the state all money he was paid for "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic."
Cuomo's lawyer, Jim McGuire, has called the commission's attempt to seize the book profits illegal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
