Politics on the Hudson

Gov. David Paterson filed an affidavit in state appeals court yesterday that argues he needs a lieutenant governor in part because of the state’s looming fiscal crisis and the uncertainty over who is in power in the state Senate.

And former Gov. Hugh Carey also filed an affirmation backing Paterson’s controversial decision to name Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor last month, an unprecedented move that many legal scholars believe is illegal.

Carey argues in the court papers that he guided the state through a fiscal crisis that almost pushed New York City into bankruptcy. He said he also turned to Ravitch to help come up with a bailout plan.

“Allowing Mr. Ravitch to continue his essential work in assisting the governor, as his lieutenant, is critical to the executive branch’s efforts to resolve the current state crisis,” Carey wrote.

(A reader points out that Carey’s son, Kevin, was recently named senior project manager for government affairs at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.)

In Paterson’s affidavit, he argues that the Senate leadership has already changed three times this year and could change again in January. Senate President Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, is expected to be replaced in January by Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson, D-Brooklyn.

The constitution says the Senate president would hold the duties of lieutenant governor when the seat is vacant and is next in line to succeed the governor. But with the Senate leadership tenuous, Paterson argues he needs to have a lieutenant governor.

“Given the instability in the Senate, there can be no assurance that another change will not happen in the interim,” Paterson states. “Should I become incapacitated, there is no reason to believe that there would not be another contest for power in the Senate; the stakes clearly would be higher.”

Paterson also indicated that the state’s fiscal crisis—new budget numbers are expected this week—will require a functioning Senate “because I necessarily will ask the Senate shortly to consider measures to deal with the state’s extraordinary financial circumstances.”

Senate Republicans are trying to block Paterson from installing Ravitch as lieutenant governor. An appeals court is expected to hear oral arguments Thursday.

Dan Schorr, the Republican candidate for Westchester County District Attorney, is calling on Janet DiFiore, the incumbent Democrat, to appoint an independent prosecutor to look into claims that there was fraud and forgery in the Conservative Party’s nomination of County Executive Andrew Spano.

The Conservative Party has filed several lawsuits, including one yesterday, alleging that Conservative Party leaders forged as many as 80 or more signatures that gave Spano the line. They want Spano off the line.

DiFiore also received the Conservative Party line.

Schorr is holding a press conference today.

New Rochelle City Manager Charles Strome III was on 1460 WVOX today and made a random promise to a caller during a conversation about baseball:

“Should the Mets make it to the playoffs, during the City Council meeting in October I will rip off my shirt and demand that the Council get things done,” he jokingly said.

Hmm, not sure if I want to hold him accountable for that statement :)

The Census Bureau released a report today that shows New York spent the most per pupil of any state in the nation in the 2006-07 school year, spending $15,981 per pupil and more than 60 percent the national average of $9,666.

E.J. McMahon, director of the Manhattan Institute’s Empire Center for New York State Policy, points out on his blog that New York’s school spending of nearly $51 billion was less than only California, which has double the number of students.

McMahon argues that the high spending is the result of higher salaries and benefits. He said the New York’s spending on salaries and benefits came to $11,042 per pupil, 88 percent above the national average.

Here’s the Census report.

   The Board of Regents voted unanimously today to appoint David Milton Steiner, the dean of Hunter College’s School of Education, as the state’s new education commissioner. Steiner, 51, is the 13th education commissioner since the job was created 105 years ago.

   Steiner, who starts Oct. 1, will be paid $250,000 a year. He replaces Richard Mills, who was commissioner from 1995 until June 30.

   “I look forward to this responsibility. I will not do it alone. I will be working with all of you,” Steiner said after the appointment.

   “This is an exciting day for our schools. I am deeply honored,” he said.

   Steiner has been dean of Hunter’s School of Education since 2005. He was a professor of Boston University’s School of Education from 1999 to 2004, chairing the Department of Education Policy from 2002 to 2004. He has written four books and is working on a fifth, which is about the limits of educational reform.

   Carole Huxley, a retired deputy commissioner at the state Education Department, is interim commissioner until Steiner takes over.   

The latest installment of Editorial Spotlight, The Journal News Editorial Board’s community affairs Web cast, brings together three senators who represent portions of the Lower Hudson Valley to discuss the future of the
post-coup state Senate. Joining us Tuesday at 1 p.m. will be Senate Deputy Majority Leader Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx; Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers; and Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City.
Watch LIVE at Editorial Spotlight. View the program on demand at Editorial Spotlight, click “on demand” and select the program from the list at right.
Readers can submit questions in advance for possible use during the interview; e-mail tprinciot@lohud.com.

Some Conservative Party members, upset that their party endorsed several Democrats including County Executive Andrew Spano, are accusing their own leaders of forging signatures and falsifying ballots.

Members of the party are expected to file suit today at the Westchester County Courthouse. The party last week made its endorsements for the second time in two months. Spano got the nod over his Republican challenger Rob Astorino, who supporters say is the real Conservative in the race.

The fallout reverberated through the Republican Party last week, as several Board of Elections workers were fired the day after the vote was taken.

The Democratic Governor’s Association is hosting its summer conference this weekend in Saratoga, with Gov. David Paterson hosting. He’s also planning to hold a fundraiser for his own election bid next year.

According to the association, the list of attendees include: Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen; New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine; Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley; North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue; and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr.

They are holding a reception Friday evening and then heading to Saratoga Race Course Saturday afternoon.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Congressman Eliot Engel and Congressman John Hall will endorse Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore today in her re-election bid. The press conference will take place at 11 a.m. today ay DiFiore’s Mamaroneck Avenue campaign headquarters.

   New York State United Teachers, which has 600,000 members, and the New York Library Association have joined forces, they announced today. NYSUT will work with the Library Association to advocate for legislation that will help public and private libraries, and the union will help organize libraries to get greater pay and benefits.

   NYSUT’s membership already includes 2,000 libraries, and the Library Association has 4,000 members, said union President Richard Iannuzzi.

   “In difficult economic times, libraries need additional support and this affiliation strengthens both organizations and allows us both to more effectively serve our members,” Iannuzzi said in a statement.  

   Instead of union dues, the Library Association will pay NYSUT an annual affiliation fee. NYSUT has had a similar agreement with the New York State Psychological Association since 1999. Library Association members will be eligible for some NYSUT benefits, such as life insurance and travel discounts, and will be able to take advantage of NYSUT’s continuing-education programs.

   “We feel partnering with NYSUT will increase our ability to advocate for the interests of our members, protect against potential cuts, and further our legislative agenda,” Library Association President Josh Cohen said in a statement.