NY-Lt. Gov.: Paterson Will Attempt to Name a Lt. Gov.

[ccharles000]

David Paterson is going to attempt to do something many folks thought was unpossible:

Gov. David A. Paterson will name a lieutenant governor in a televised speech he has scheduled for late Wednesday afternoon, according to a person close to the governor.

It remains unclear, however, whom he will pick. ...

Speculation in the capital ran rampant on Wednesday about a possible pick for the post, including the former Chief Judge Judith Kaye and Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi. Ms. Kaye did not return a call for comment. Mr. Suozzi indicated at an appearance on Wednesday that he would not be appointed, nor had sought the job.

Swing State Project sources also indicate that SSP Publisher DavidNYC is in the hunt. Apparently, Paterson, who represented the West Side for many years in the state Senate, wants to balance his ticket with someone from the East Side. Anyhow, how might Paterson accomplish this trick, given that the state constitution doesn't specify anything about any line of succession for the Lt. Gov. spot?

But whether Mr. Paterson can legally appoint a lieutenant governor has been a matter of some debate. One school of thought, which has been advanced in recent days by Democrats and government watchdog groups, is that a provision of state law allows the governor to fill elected offices for which there is no provision explicitly spelling out how the vacancy should be handled.

But Republicans are sure to sue to block any such move, and even AG Andy Cuomo claimed that this would be an unconstitutional "political ploy." Still, with such an embarrassing circus in Albany, anything that might put pressure on the Senate to bust its insane logjam could be helpful at this point - it's pretty hard to see things getting worse. Stay tuned this afternoon.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5244/nylt-gov-paterson-will-attempt-to-name-a-lt-gov

[TheWraith]

1. The NY Times is saying it's Richard Ravitch, former MTA chief.

I'd prefer somebody from upstate.

[Me.]

3. It Is Ravitch

[Raineyb]

9. I'd prefer someone who hadn't worked for the MTA

The MTA board is always raising our fares but never want to let anyone see the books. They up our fares while paying for limos for themselves. They just plain suck.

[Renew Deal]

2. I can't imagine it would be Suozzi.

Suozzi would easily outshine Paterson. Also Suozzi has a real job in Nassau County. There's no need to take this dead end job.

[TheWraith]

4. Suozzi's likely running for Attorney General next year. nt

[LiberalFighter]

5. Unpossible?

[PBS Poll-435]

11. Good catch...

"Me fail English? Thats unpossible."

[vaberella]

6. He's not going to. He called me today by phone and said he's named Ravitch as AG. n/t

[whistler162]

7. He called me twice...

first time he didn't leave a message and the second time I hung up on him!

[vaberella]

12. oh...once, and I picked up right away when I saw his name come up on my caller ID. n/t

[whistler162]

8. weird burp

[Wabbajack_]

10. Pres Obama called me, wanted to watch the sox game tonite

Anyway, Patterson doesn't have the constitutional power to do this I don' think.

[vaberella]

13. He just did. I think it works in his favor when people don't show up for work. n/t