The Plot Against Bruno

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By Azi Paybarah

October 11, 2007 | 10:56 a.m.

Joe Bruno may be paranoid that Eliot Spitzer is after him. But it doesn’t mean he’s wrong, either.

News of an aborted plan by Democrats in the state Senate to sic the IRS on Bruno broke today. But in a statement Bruno just put out, he talks of a conversation he had with Senator Malcolm Smith who, Bruno says, admitted the governor was involved in the plot, and that more was underway.

From Bruno’s statement:

“Senator Smith called me last night to confirm that his office had
written the letter, but that he stepped in to stop it. He also informed me
that Spitzer administration officials were involved in this plot and that
other similar dirty tricks were planned, the IRS effort being just one.
This latest revelation confirms that Governor Spitzer and his subordinates
continue to obsess with efforts to personally attack me and have no
interest in governing.

Here is Bruno's full statement:

STATEMENT BY SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH L. BRUNO

Yesterday, I was informed that Senate Minority Leader Smith had
circulated a letter to his members directing them to contact the IRS for
the sole purpose of engaging in more political dirty tricks to damage me
personally.

Senator Smith called me last night to confirm that his office had
written the letter, but that he stepped in to stop it. He also informed me
that Spitzer administration officials were involved in this plot and that
other similar dirty tricks were planned, the IRS effort being just one.
This latest revelation confirms that Governor Spitzer and his subordinates
continue to obsess with efforts to personally attack me and have no
interest in governing.

I have convened the Senate twice and will convene a third time on
October 22nd in an effort to move an agenda that focuses on property tax
relief for seniors, encouraging economic development, and capital
investments to help businesses create jobs. Despite his recent comments,
it’s clear that Governor Spitzer and his allies have no interest in that
agenda and are only interested in a partisan political one.

Senator Smith and the Governor should immediately fire everyone
involved in this latest plot and apologize to the people of this State for
their actions.

It’s clear that the Governor and his subordinates will continue to
abuse government power and use these underhanded tactics against me, as
leader of the Senate. Who might they target next?