A Paterson Fund-Raising Committee Inches Away, Toward Cuomo

Of the 99 donors listed on David Paterson’s birthday fund-raising committee, 57 did not contribute toward the governor’s re-election this reporting cycle, eight contributed to both Paterson and his rival-in-waiting Andrew Cuomo, and nine gave only to Cuomo, a review of recent campaign filings shows. “There’s no bias. Everybody gets equal attention; I support all Read More

A Legislative Way to Appoint an LG

ALBANY—David Paterson said that if the courts don’t uphold the constitutionality of his appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, he’ll introduce a bill making it legal. State Senator Joe Griffo, a Utica Republican, had this message for the governor:
“He should get behind my bill!” Griffo told me by phone yesterday. He has Read More

Paterson Makes an ‘Instability’ Argument; Judge Stays Restraining Order on Ravitch

ALBANY—David Paterson’s lawyers are indeed appealing a decision issued Tuesday night by William LaMarca which enjoined Richard Ravitch from acting as lieutenant governor.
The 10-page memorandum the governor’s lawyers filed in support of the appeal is above. This line of logic, which echoes what Paterson told me Sunday, jumped out:

“Moreover, although the stalemate Read More

Paterson Vetos $5.7 Million of Spending

ALBANY—David Paterson announced he has vetoed 14 bills, claiming savings to the state of $5.7 million.
Earlier this year, angry at legislators for not introducing his legislation to enact a spending cap, Paterson threatened to veto bills that spent money. Here’s a list from the governor’s office of his latest victims:

A.1800/S.2210, which could Read More

Judge Says No to Paterson’s Only-Cuomo Argument

ALBANY—Buried in his 20-page decision enjoining Richard Ravitch from acting as lieutenant governor, Supreme Court Justice William LaMarca addressed an argument by David Paterson’s attorneys that only Andrew Cuomo, as attorney general, had standing to sue over the governor’s appointment of Ravitch. In LaMarca’s view, at least one avenue to Cuomo’s involvement is closed.

Executive Read More

If Ravitch Is Restrained, Paterson Sees Him in a Volunteer Role

ALBANY—Supreme Court Justice William LaMarca issued a ruling Tuesday night that prevents Richard Ravitch from serving as lieutenant governor, at least until a higher court hears the case.
“The court concludes that plaintiffs have established a likelihood of success on the merits for their claim that neither the constitution nor legislative enactment authorized the Read More

The Asset David Paterson Can’t Wait to Deploy

ALBANY–David Paterson named Richard Ravitch his lieutenant governor to solve a leadership dispute in the State Senate. But he’s hoping for a lot more.
“The lieutenant governor, like a vice president, is an extension of the governor,” Mr. Paterson told the Observer. “I would think that because of his acumen on subjects and his Read More

After the Storm, a Commitment to Diverse Judges

ALBANY—The Commission on Judicial Nomination has posted a new set of criteria for selecting potential candidates, including a specific declaration of the benefits of diversity.
These new rules come after a tiff earlier this year that the Commission’s slate of potential candidates–from which the governor is legally obliged to select judges for the Court Read More

Cuomo’s Last Word on the Ravitch Appointment?

ALBANY—A law professor said Andrew Cuomo had “the constitutional obligation to say something” about the appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, a move which is currently undergoing judicial review.
“He immediately had to look at this and see if he could constitutionally defend the governor,” Michael Hutter, a professor at Albany Law School, Read More