Governor Cuomo Budget Cuts Praised By Prominent Republicans

He's not a Republican, but New York conservatives like what they see so far from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

From the New York Post:

Gov. Cuomo earned plaudits from the "right" political precincts recently when the dean of the New York Republican Party gave the state's top Democrat honors for his first 100 days in office.

"So far, I'd give [him] an A -- and I hate to say good things about Democrats," quipped Guy Molinari, a former Staten Island congressman and borough president who tangled at times with Cuomo's dad, former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

"I'm very impressed," Molinari said. "Andrew is teaching the Democrats in the state to act more like Republicans. He's come in with sound policies. He's strong and tough."

Molinari is just the latest right-winger to lavish praise on the fiscally austere Cuomo.

Last week, Mark Meckler, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots, said the governor, "sounds like a Tea Party member when you hear him talk." Meckler added, "You could see the Tea Party influence in his behavior."

During his election campaign last year, Cuomo told voters that he, and not Republican opponent Carl Paladino, was the real Tea Party candidate.

Last month, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani said Cuomo was governing like a Republican and was "off to a very good start."

Conservatives were big fans of Cuomo's budget, passed two weeks ago, which included deep cuts in education and health spending. It also got rid of the so-called "millionaire's tax" on high-earners. The budget did not increase taxes and closed a $10 billion budget gap.