Paterson Mulls Options in Senate Standoff
Governor may be learning to love Espada however
Updated 4:19 PM EST, Mon, Jul 6, 2009
Gov. David Paterson will have to continue brainstorming how to get the New York Senate back to work, after the attorney general's office ruled today that he cannot appoint a lieutenant governor to address the monthlong standoff.
Paterson had hoped that a liutenant govenor would help break the 31-31 dealock down party lines. But, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ruled that though his office understands the current circumstances in Albany, it is "not constitutional" to appoint a lieutenant governor when there is a vacancy in that office. The current vacany arose when Paterson replaced Gov. Eliot Spitzer after he resigned amid a prostitution scandal last year.
"In addition, contrary to the proponents’ goal, we believe it would not provide long term political stability but rather the opposite, by involving the Governor in a political ploy that would wind through the courts for many months," the ruling said.
Paterson said yesterday that he'll use a statewide tour this week to turn up the heat on senators who remain gridlocked in a monthlong power struggle. State officials are trying to hold the lawmakers paychecks this week.
"I have taken advantage of my travel to speak to New Yorkers directly," Paterson said after the Senate adjourned again following another extraordinary session he called.
He said in separate events over the weekend that New Yorkers' message was clear: "Don't let them off the hook. Make them stay and work."
The tough talk comes as it was reported that the governor may be closer to accepting turncoat Democrat Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. as the leader of the divided Senate.
"Whatever you think of [Espada], he has been given the highest position on the coalition side," Paterson told the Daily News. "You may not like him, but you have to respect him. That is where he is."
No bills were debated or passed in Sunday's session, which wrapped up in a record three minutes..
Two Senate factions continue to refuse to recognize each other's leaders so no legislative action was made on critical bills, including some that would extend laws that expired during the standoff.
Paterson, a Democrat, said he doesn't see either side budging in the conflict, which began with a coup June 8 by a Republican-dominated coalition versus the Democratic majority.
Since that meeting, both sides have sought to first work out the mechanics of a power-sharing arrangement, such as reworking the committee system and how to assign bills to a vote.
In an interview Sunday, Paterson called that "avoidance behavior."
"You can't do anything until you settle the leadership," he said.
Lawmakers have said for over a week they are inching-in on a solution.
"Talks are continuing, and our goal remains the same: Come to a workable solution that allows the Senate to get back to passing critical legislation," said Austin Shafran, a spokesman for the Democratic conference.
Mark Hansen, a spokesman for the GOP coalition, said Sunday evening that talks continue, but he had no further comment.
Senate Democrats meanwhile have managed to pull together support for a bill that would extend mayoral control over schools. But, of course, that legislation is contingent upon the divided Senate agreeing upon a method of sharing power, according to the New York Post.
Senate Democrats have agreed to drop a provision that Mayor Bloomberg's appointees to the Panel for Education Policy.would serve fixed terms -- instead of at the mayor's pleasure. For now, the Senate appears poised to adopt a measure similar to the one that passed in the state Assembly, according to the Post.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC New York
First Published: Jul 6, 2009 6:31 AM EST
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