Let The Fight Begin
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- July
- 9
The legal battle is already underway over Gov. David Paterson’s appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor.
Senate Republicans obtained a restraining order overnight that would prevent Ravitch from being sworn in and presiding over the Senate chambers later today.
Paterson’s office is claiming that Ravitch was sworn in Wednesday at 8 p.m., thwarting any restraining order.
A spokesman said Ravitch intends to preside over today’s 3 p.m. session.
Paterson announced Ravitch’s appointment shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday in a statewide address as a way to break the month-long gridlock in the Senate.
But Ravitch’s appointment is set to create more chaos in an already tumultuous state Capitol, where legislative business has grinded to a halt since a June 8 revolt by Senate Republicans and two dissident Democrats upended the Democratic majority.
Republicans are crying foul over Paterson’s decision to quietly swear in Ravitch Wednesday night, saying Paterson himself indicated in the address that Ravitch’s ultimate fate could rest with the courts.
“It was clearly an attempt to circumvent the law and prevent the courts from looking at whether this was done in violation of the constitution,” said John McArdle, spokesman for Senate Republicans.
“If that’s the case, then they lied about their intentions and they lied about the matter being settled by the courts.”
Paterson is expected to appear with Ravitch at an 11:30 a.m. news conference at the Capitol.
With the Senate gridlocked at 31-31, Ravitch could break tie votes and end the stalemate. But Ravitch can’t create a quorum of 32 members.
So the 30 Republicans and one Democrat, Sen. Pedro Espada, D-Bronx, are planning to attend the 3 p.m. Senate session ordered by Paterson, but are expected to leave. They are not planning to vote on legislation because they will refuse to recognize Ravitch as the presiding officer – similar to what they have done each day when Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, has presided.
Democrats said Tuesday they plan to vote on bills today, claiming that once all 62 members enter the chamber, they have a quorum to begin passing legislation.
Republicans are also hammering Paterson for using the announcement to boost his record-low poll numbers. Soon after Wednesday’s announcement, Paterson’s campaign sent out automated phone messages and emails across the state to tout the decision.
Here’s the restraining order signed early this morning:
This entry was posted
on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 9:38 am by Joseph Spector.
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The Democrats in Albany have their friendly judges and Skelos in Nassau has his, so now its off to the courts for a merry round of “Lawyers” quoting this and that. While the amigos have Breakfast, and the media watches.
How will it all end with Espada in the “Big Chair”, Skelos running for Governor. “King” Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Schumer losing to Randy Credico, and his “BRAIN” Hank Morris in the big house along with his buddies, Roger Stone smiling and showing off his “Nixon” and Dinapoli finding out he never was properly elected.
VJ Machiavelli
No More Schumer
No More Pelosi
No More Rangel
No More Engel and his million Dollar Home in Maryland.
P.sWhat a relief “King” Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Schumer is ok with the idea of Carolyn Maloney running against his “Choice”, I thought he would be upset and throw a “Schumerfit” this is when he screams and jumps up and down. He did one when he heard that Randy Credico was going to challenge him and the one who knows all Roger Stone was aiding his “friend” Randy Credico.
The Republicans and Skelos could stay in the Chamber and just vote “PRESENT”
VJ Machiavelli
No More Schumer
No More Pelosi
No More Rangel
No More Engel and his million Dollar Home in Maryland.
Correction
The Republicans and Espada could stay in the Chamber and vote “PRESENT”
VJ Machiavelli
No More Schumer
No More Pelosi
No More Rangel
No More Engel and his million Dollar Home in Maryland.
its too bad that the republican leaders are going to attempt
to stop ravitch from acting as lt governor..coupled with
their recent dealings with espada it will sap any credibility they might have had..the public wants the
business of the people to be done…they want legilslation
passed and they want the petty bickering to stop…espada
is not a republican..he is simply using the republicans
to gain a position of leadership for himself in the senate
chamber..and I am not sure that republicans want to be
seen as being the vehicle for espada’s ambitions
All this does is rationalize the Democrats lawsuits over the Republican “coup”. I cannot figure what bugs me more. That our legislature is now even less effective than it was before the coup, or that it’s probably a good thing these chumps aren’t doing anything…
Fire them all is what I say.