ALBANY—Richard Ravitch called me from somewhere between Albany and New York. He had been with David Paterson in Rochester the night before, speaking to an annual gathering of the Business Council. He was heading to a forum alongside the governors of Texas and Vermont. I asked him what he's been doing.
"Just working on Read More
ALBANY—Richard Ravitch announced he intends to hire some staff, but the budget for the Office of Lieutenant Governor was eliminated this year.
This makes sense: the state is facing a fiscal crisis and there was no lieutenant governor, and no one foresaw (in March or April) the appointment of Richard Ravitch to the post. Read More
ALBANY—The seven judges of the State Court of Appeals peppered attorneys for David Paterson and Dean Skelos with questions as they argued the constitutionality of Richard Ravitch's appointment as lieutenant governor.
On of the lighter comments came from Judge Robert Smith, as he parsed an argument made by Paterson that Skelos did not have Read More
ALBANY—A four-judge panel just ruled against the constitutionality of David Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor and upheld an injunction that prevents him from doing his job. This ruling is expected to be appealed.
"We have no quarrel with those who say that having a man of Mr. Ravitch's stature, Read More
ALBANY—They're back in court to determine the constitutionality of Richard Ravitch's appointment as lieutenant governor.
Lawyers for State Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos and David Paterson faced off in Brooklyn's appellate division, again, to make arguments in front of a four-judge panel. Since their last appearance in Brooklyn, Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Read More
ALBANY—Groups and scholars on both sides of the court case related to the constitutionality of David Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch have filed amicus briefs ahead of a court hearing August 17.
The New York Civil Liberties Union filed a brief last week supporting the governor's position--that Ravitch's appointment is appropriate according to Read More
ALBANY—Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said a four-judge panel took a "moderate position" when it ruled that Richard Ravitch has a constricted ability to act as lieutenant governor, pending a final decision on the constitutionality of his appointment to that office by David Paterson.
"We gave our opinion, and all I know from Read More
ALBANY—A four-judge panel has ruled that Richard Ravitch can exercise the powers of lieutenant governor, but can't provide over the State Senate, until the completion of a case challenging the constitutionality of his appointment.
The panel heard arguments about the case today. The decision is above.
ALBANY—Lawyers for David Paterson and Senator Dean Skelos are due back in court Thursday to argue the constitutionality of Richard Ravitch's appointment earlier this month as lieutenant governor.
On Monday, the Paterson lawyers filed several documents in support of their case, including the above affidavit from former governor Hugh Carey. The crux of it Read More
ALBANY—Facing at least a temporary legal setback, Republicans are blasting a judge who overrode their injunction to prevent Richard Ravitch from exercising the powers of lieutenant governor.
"I think it was deliberate. I think he was judge shopping and he was wrong," said State Senator Marty Golden, a Brooklyn Republican, noting that Judge Read More
ALBANY—David Paterson said that if the courts don't uphold the constitutionality of his appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, he'll introduce a bill making it legal. State Senator Joe Griffo, a Utica Republican, had this message for the governor:
"He should get behind my bill!" Griffo told me by phone yesterday. Read More
ALBANY—David Paterson said that if the courts don't uphold the constitutionality of his appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, he'll introduce a bill making it legal. State Senator Joe Griffo, a Utica Republican, had this message for the governor: "He should get behind my bill!" Griffo told me by phone yesterday. He has legislation Read More
ALBANY—David Paterson's lawyers are indeed appealing a decision issued Tuesday night by William LaMarca which enjoined Richard Ravitch from acting as lieutenant governor.
The 10-page memorandum the governor's lawyers filed in support of the appeal is above. This line of logic, which echoes what Paterson told me Sunday, jumped out:
"Moreover, although the Read More
ALBANY—David Paterson's lawyers are indeed appealing a decision issued Tuesday night by William LaMarca which enjoined Richard Ravitch from acting as lieutenant governor. The 10-page memorandum the governor's lawyers filed in support of the appeal is above. This line of logic, which echoes what Paterson told me Sunday, jumped out: "Moreover, although the stalemate has Read More
ALBANY—David Paterson's lawyers are indeed appealing a decision issued Tuesday night by William LaMarca which enjoined Richard Ravitch from acting as lieutenant governor. The 10-page memorandum the governor's lawyers filed in support of the appeal is above. This line of logic, which echoes what Paterson told me Sunday, jumped out: "Moreover, although the stalemate has Read More
