Roadblocks to reform Eliot Spitzer

spitzer speaking in april 2007

spitzer s reform-based platform, , pledge change ethics of albany , hit roadblock when ideas on how fill vacancies in executive department defeated state legislature. according new york state constitution, duty of state legislature fill executive vacancies. governor criticized unreasonable admonishing legislature when took constitutional actions. appointment of state assemblyman thomas dinapoli succeed disgraced alan hevesi new york state comptroller serious blow new governor. spitzer had backed outside panel draft list of qualified candidates; legislature resisted spitzer s desires when these included no legislators. assembly democrats alienated on incident, , questioned spitzer s refusal of extending patronage party members seeking local political appointments.

spitzer s choice new york city finance commissioner martha stark, selected panel consisted of former state comptroller edward regan, former state comptroller carl mccall , former new york city comptroller harrison j. goldin. on february 7, 2007, when legislature voted, stark 1 of 2 names put nomination, along assemblyman thomas dinapoli of long island, assembly leader sheldon silver s choice. final vote 150 dinapoli , 56 stark. stark s main support came democrats in senate, along republicans in both chambers.

spitzer traveled home districts of democratic assemblymen william b. magnarelli , george s. latimer (in syracuse , westchester county respectively), , publicly criticized them votes on dinapoli; had plans exert similar pressure on other of party s legislators.

one of spitzer s key campaign pledges reform state budget process. while state did pass budget on schedule in 2007, ultimate results fell short of many reformers hoped spitzer achieve. new york post opined, spitzer promised reform, , delivered different , termed budget bitterly disappointing.

spitzer s budget turned deficit, end of october projected state run deficit exceeding $4 billion year. during spitzer s first year state payroll increased, aggravating budget problem. despite increasing public sector payroll, in late 2007 new york state started leading nation in lost jobs. 2008–09 budget includes measures counter financial effects of crisis in financial sector starting in second half of 2007.

spitzer criticized members of new york state legislature failing compromise on issues during first few months governor. in 1 exchange, according new york post, spitzer told new york state assembly minority leader james tedisco: listen, m f - - -king [hyphens sic on post website] steamroller , ll roll on , else , although reported neither party had provided confirmation post sought. spitzer s reputation steamroller shared plurality of new yorkers in quinnipiac university poll, 3 1 margin believed tactic had been unsuccessful , had added political gridlock.

tedisco later accused spitzer of cutting $300,000 of state funding health care , education grants in schenectady area retaliation tedisco s opposition spitzer plan allow illegal immigrants new york state driver s licenses. tedisco accused governor of dirty tricks , bullying .

in wake of controversy involving political surveillance controversy involving bruno, spitzer accused of pandering special interest groups solidify base of support. governor took office vowing clean albany has lost public support reduced feathering nest of unions , other liberals , wrote michael goodwin of daily news.

in february 2008, washington post published op-ed written spitzer in criticized bush administration inhibiting states pursuing predatory lenders.