Last year, while the State Senate had a bit of an upheaval in who was actually running the show, the issue of Paterson's successor came to light. With no lieutenant governor, the President of the State Senate would be "Second in Command." Not knowing who that was exactly put our State in a difficult situation.
So the governor decided to appoint a lieutenant governor, Richard Ravitch, so the State wouldn't have to worry whether the successor was Sampson, Smith, Skelos or Espada. Many argued then and still do today, that the move was unconstitutional. I'm in that camp. You can't change the rules. You have to pass an amendment to clarify the rules. Michael Gianaris, a State Assemblyman running for State Senate this year in the Long Island City part of Queens was the man who interpreted the State Constitution in a way that got the courts to accept the unconstitutional ruling.
Today, we have a late budget for 2010-2011. Due on April 1, it is now 82 days late. Dick Ravitch submitted a proposal which included borrowing that was not accepted by the governor. So Ravitch has this, "They don't need me" atitude and isn't attending budget meetings or scheduled conferences where his "expertise" could be advisable.
If the man is not doing his job, then fire him. Are we paying Ravitch to do nothing? A salary for statewide office I can't imagine being anything cheap. Granted, his salary won't close the gap, but it could potentially save two or three state employee jobs that could be important to the average New Yorker. It has become an embarrassment to have him in this office which he should never have gotten.
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written by osher g. , June 22, 2010
The constitution is very clear that only someone elected by the people of New York can serve as Lieutenant Governor, but I Don't believe there are any provisions in the law for recall elections. I think New York would benefit from having recall elections as it would act as a check on elected officials.
As far as I remember when he took the job, Governor Paterson said that Ravitch would not take a salary, but of course that is not the point. Either way isn't the LG's job to preside over the Senate, not the budget? Maybe if he replaced Pedro Espada or Malcolm Smith as Senate President we would be getting our money's worth.
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