Anonymous Patron writes “Newsday.com Reports Republican Assembly members who helped block Democrats’ attempt to override Gov. George Pataki’s budget vetoes are working out a plan to restore the governor’s cuts to public libraries _ but only in Republican districts.
The Republican governor has provided similar assurances to Republican Assembly members for restoration of aid he vetoed for a Southern Tier prison and for a downtown Rochester revitalization effort, the assemblymen representing those districts said. All said the assurances were not a quid pro quo for their votes that helped blocked overrides of Pataki’s vetoes on Monday and dealt a blow to Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.”
Update: 09/24 06:17 EST by R:Here’s another story from the Buffalo News, a democrats town that won’t be benefitting from the funding
I can believe it
Without a doubt, Governor Pataki is continuing in the same nonsensical way he’s always done, creating problems in finalizing a budget and limiting benefits to constituents downstate. As usual, he’s favoring those in Republican Districts. What does that leave out you ask? NEW YORK CITY . The place where all those oh so fervently patriotic Republicans came to choose their nominee for President. They came, they saw, they partied, they created gridlock and then they left. I don’t think they’ll be back anytime soon.
The Republican assemblymen’s actions are so corrupt as to almost be actionable. Here we go…I’m depressed again.
Re:I can believe it
We have a lot of Republican governors here in Mass. but we’re still considered a one-party state, and it ain’t Republican. The name to hate around here is Finneran, known as Speaker-For-Life, and he does a good job in feathering his own and his party’s nest. Welcome to politics.
Is Pataki the only one who does this?
I think GregS* is right. This may well be a case of corrupt behavior on Pataki’s part, but pork-barrel politics is not a peculiarly Republican vice. I am not suggesting that the Republicans are any better on this score than the Democrats, either. This is one of the reasons why I am an independent.
Alexis de Tocqueville is supposed to have said “The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money.” Sadly, both major parties have pretty well figured this out now, and they often act accoringly.
Republican Libraries/Democratic Libraries
They’re all just LIBRARIES. They’re for ALL THE PEOPLE. Love this quote from the Buffalo News story: “We’ve reached a real low here in Albany,” said Assemblywoman Sandra R. Galef, a Westchester County Democrat who is chairwoman of the Assembly committee on libraries.
“For us to be sending money only to Republican libraries only denies the kids and parents and seniors in other districts,” Galef said.