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 legislation which "mirrors" the federal process for appointing a vice president. The governor would nominate a lieutenant governor, who would be subject to individual confirmation by both houses of the Legislature.
"It allows the governor to make his choice, and then allows for independent confirmation," Griffo said. This would be different than the process by which vacancies for attorney general or comptroller, the other statewide elective offices, are filled.
The legislation is currently being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General.
