There has been a growing narrative in Albany that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been consolidating his own power at the expense of the legislature, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Today in a radio interview with Susan Arbetter, Mr. Cuomo sounded mystified that now people seemed to be defending the legislature’s prerogative.

“To the extent you listen to the pundits in this building, they accuse me of being too aggressive and too harsh and trying to override the poor legislature. They have done a 180 on the legislature by the way on the past year,” Mr. Cuomo said, then adopting the tone of an apparently aggrieved pundit added,  ”Now it’s,  ’The poor legislature that represents the people of this state so well, and the governor is trying to take power from the poor legislature.’”

The popularity of the legislature has been rising–it had nowhere to go but up–largely due to the popularity of the governor and the fact state government seems to work again.

There is a difference  however between defending the prerogatives of the various branches of government and having a pity party, but Gov. Cuomo reminded listeners that any authority he tries to grab is an effort to improve government efficiency.

And, in making the point, he took another backhanded swipe at his predecessors.

Speaking of his pension reform efforts, the governor said, “I am not saying its my way or the highway. I am not recalcitrant and isolated and difficult and unreasonable.”

Previous governors he noted, have been unwilling to negotiate.

“That would be a failed governor. We have had those in Albany.”

Follow David Freedlander via RSS.