Politics on the Hudson

   Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, whom outgoing Gov. George Pataki blames for yesterday’s derailment of civil-confinement legislation, had some choice words of his own for the Republican leaving office Dec. 31.

   Pataki suggested that Silver, a Democrat, let his desire for annual cost-of-living increases in lawmakers’ pay get in the way of a bill that would allow the state to keep dangerous sexual predators locked up after their criminal sentences expired. The governor said sexual predators who should be behind bars will be let out because Silver would not allow the bill on the floor for a vote.

   For his part, Silver said he never had a conversation with the governor about pay raises. “I support a pay raise and the other thing I support is pay raises should not be a political football,” Silver said.

  As for whether he’ll miss acrimonious negotiations with Pataki, who has served for 12 years, Silver was unequivocal:

   “In 17 days we’ll have an extreme makeover in this state. I look forward to it,” he said.