Posted on 07/08/2009 2:58:23 PM PDT by NYer
Gov. David Paterson has appointed businessman Richard Ravitch lieutenant governor.
In a 5 p.m. address, Paterson said the move was necessary as a result of the “chaos” in the Senate.
Paterson called the move unprecedented but necessary.
“I see closure to this crisis,” Paterson said, adding that he was seeking New Yorkers’ support for his decision. He also said he expects a legal challenge to his decision and asked there are plans for “future legal action, I ask it be done expeditiously.”
Ravitch is the former chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority chair.
Paterson said he appointed Ravitch because the leadership void needed to be filled. He said state law did not prevent him from making the appointment.
"Today I will appoint a lieutenant governor who will fill out the remainder of my term with me," Paterson said, adding that Ravitch won't seek a full term.
The appointment of Ravitch, who once worked for Gov. Hugh Carey in the 1970s, however, may lead to litigation. Earlier this week Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said filling the vacant post would be unconstitutional.
Ravitch is chairman of the Commission on Metropolitan Transportation Authority Financing, the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust’s Board of Trustees and the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust’s Advisory Board.
Ravitch also served as the chairman of the state's Urban Development Board and former principal owner and chairman of the Bowery Savings Bank of New York, according to a biography posted by Hofstra University, where Ravitch spoke last month.
In a statement Paterson said he has discussed the naming of a lieutenant governor with lawyers familiar with the state constitution, a decision he called unprecedented.
Paterson said he has been meeting with individual lawmakers in the Senate and as a group trying to find a resolution. He said the real issue is the economy and without additional budgetary cuts in the Legislature, the state faces added financial difficulties.
The office of lieutenant governor has been open since Paterson became governor, replacing Eliot Spitzer, who resigned in March 2008.
Having someone in the position of lieutenant governor is seen as a way to unblock the gridlock that has snarled the state Senate. The lieutenant governor can cast tie-breaking votes in that chamber.
Ravitch, in his 70s, was chairman of the state Urban Development Corp. during the Carey administration.
Senators have performed no official business since the surprise uprising that Republicans led on June 8. Two Democrats joined all 30 Republicans to oust Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) as majority leader.After the surprise June 8 vote, the bipartisan group named Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. (D-Bronx) as the Senate’s temporary president. Democrats say the vote was illegal because they say that they had gaveled the session to a close before it was held.
On June 15, Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) left the coalition and rejoined Democrats. Now, the Senate is evenly divided between 31 coalition members and 31 Democrats.
Paterson has called several special sessions and today, he said, he withheld senators' salaries.
Control of the chamber has remained up in the air; the bipartisan group of senators, and remaining Democrats, each say they control the Senate.
Sen. Dean Skelos, a Republican, challenged the governor's decision. Skelos (R-Rockland County), is the coalition’s majority leader.
"The days of three men in a room are done," Skelos said today. "The days of openness and fairness are now beginning."
The roller coaster ride just took another turn. An unelected governor, names an unelected Lt. Gov. If you were to write this into a novel, people would laugh at the absurdity of such a notion.
The governor is using a law from 1892 intended for him to appoint staff below him. Expect legal challenges!
Remember all the drugs (unused Rx) that we used to dump down the toilet. I guess this what happens to us years later.
Didn’t this happen the the 70’s with Nixon?? Unelected vise President appoint a unelected vise President?? Duh!!
Ah, New York. The libs there are the most vocal in telling the rest of the country who is good enough to run and who isn’t. Wow, wonder how they feel about their state government? Guess it’s hard to notice with their noses so far up in the air.
This is state, not federal government. There is NO precedent for this in NY even though there have been 10 other instances when a governor ruled without a lt gov.
I thought NY always did things witout precedent!!
Skelos is not the Senator from Rockland County. He is from Rockville Center.
“Earlier this week Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said filling the vacant post would be unconstitutional.”
You need more than that to stop a democrat.
Just another example of democrats being above the law...move along, nothing to see here.
I think the Gov’s actions are in violation of the State Constitution. I think he loses this court battle.
But then again were dealing with libtards and Democrat's here.
No comparison. The US Constitution specifically provided for what occurred back then. This is an unconstitutional power grab.
Not the same situation. Paterson *was* elected, as running mate of Spitzer .. he was not 'appointed' after the fact.
With Nixon it was a case of VP Agnew resigning and then Ford being 'appointed' as VP ... when Nixon resigned, Ford assumed the presidency and 'appointed' VP Rockefeller
Expect this to be shot down by the courts at record speed. Also, the State Senate will refuse to recognize Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor. Governor Paterson needs someone to read the State Constitution to him, for he clearly can't see what it says (I don't mean his legal blindness).
*ping*
Paterson violates state law and installs Lt Governor in NY.
“There is NO precedent for this in NY even though there have been 10 other instances when a governor ruled without a lt gov.”
But I really thought Patterson made a good point that with the State senate in turmoil, and no clear leader there, if something were to happen to him (hey, you know, he might be swept off his feet by Sarah Palin, or run off to Argentina, strange days these times so I think he’s got a point) there would be no clear person to take his place.
He also said Ravitch (who must be pretty old at this point) would not seek to run after this term, but of course who knows for sure.
But I don’t know, it seemed reasonable to me.
Guess I gotta sign myself Ex-Nyer (but NYC will always be my beloved hometown!)
Isn’t that grounds for impeachment?
Perhaps, but then who’d replace him ? ;-)
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