New York has new lieutenant governor

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - You may have never heard his name before, but Thursday, Richard Ravitch could be one of the most powerful people in Albany, if it's all legal.

Late Wednesday, Governor David Paterson named Ravitch as New York's new lieutenant governor. He's 75 years old. He's a Democrat, and he could end a stalemate that's now lasted 31 days.

New York hasn't had a lt. governor for over year since Eliot Spitzer resigned, but now the governor says he can appoint one, and he could be passing bills Thursday.

Governor Paterson said, "This I believe is the right thing to do, I have no doubt of that."

The governor has appointed, as his Lt. Governor, Richard Ravitch, known as a "fixer" of New York City's mass transit system, and the State's Urban Development Corporation.
Thursday, he could be the tie breaker in the 31 to 31 deadlocked State Senate. That is if the governor actually does have the power to appoint a lt. governor.

Paterson said, "There is nothing in the constitution, nor in the law that says I cannot fill the vacant post of lt. governor."

Canisius College Professor Peter Galie said, "Well, boy that's one heck of a reading of the constitution, because he's saying if it doesn't say I can't do it, I can."

Dr. Galie has written two books on the state constitution and agrees with the state attorney general that's it's not legal; that only the president of the senate can appoint a lt. governor, but for the past month, the Senate can't agree on who's the President.

It used to be Malcolm Smith, who likes what the governor did Wednesday.

Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith said, "The leadership he has shown in appointing a lt. governor we believe is a step in the right direction."

Senator John Sampson said, "We're not going to be held hostage anymore. Tomorrow, we're gonna go to the floor, we're going to pass the bills."

But Republicans refuse to give power back to the same majority that passed this year's budget.

Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos said, "It means you won't get your STAR property tax rebate this year. It will cost you more to send your children to college, and you'll pay $2,400 more a year in state taxes."

The Republican coalition is expected to fight the governor's appointment of Ravitch on legal grounds, which could drag the 31 day deadlock even longer.

Paterson said, "And should there be any legal action, I just ask that it be done expeditiously."

The governor isn't up for re-election until next year, but Wednesday night some voters in western New York received an automated phone call from Governor Paterson spelling out his platform on this stalemate.