State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, argues on the state Senate floor to curb Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive authority.

Sen. George Borrello’s effort to end Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s emergency powers on Tuesday failed in the state Senate.

Senators were debating S.2733, which would reduce the number of signatures candidates must collect for designating petitions by 70% in the 2021 election cycle.

Borrello offered an amendment that he argued was germaine because his amendment also would deal with the number of signatures on nominating petitions because Cuomo’s third executive order issued on March 14, 2020, decreased the number of required signatures on nominating petitions for the 2020 election by 70%. The Sunset Bay Republican argued that his proposed amendment sought to return balance to the legislative process.

Borrello said state legislators ceded power to Cuomo last year, at the governor’s request, because no one knew if the state Legislature would be able to function during the COVID-19 pandemic. That action was taken even though the Article 3 of the state Constitution vests legislative power with the Senate and Assembly.