Jul 9, 2009 1:12 pm US/Eastern
Paterson: Lt. Gov. Won't Preside In Session
GOP Spokesman Says Nassau Co. Judge Issued Order Temporarily Suspending Paterson's Plan
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Gov. David Paterson appointed Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor during a 5 p.m. televised speech on Wednesday.
CBS
Gov. David Paterson tried to end the Albany chaos by naming a lieutenant governor, but the opposition challenged the appointment in the courts early Thursday, leaving even more confusion in the state capitol.
If Paterson has a Cheshire cat smile on his face, you can forgive him. He had his new lieutenant governor, Richard Ravitch, sworn in so quickly Wednesday night, the opposition couldn't stop it.
"Time and time again, Richard Ravitch has been called upon to serve in moments of crisis and difficulty and I have asked him to serve again," Paterson said at a Thursday press conference. "I would like to present you the new lieutenant governor, Richard Ravitch."
But as Paterson introduced his new lieutenant governor to New Yorkers there was intense court wrangling over whether the 76-year-old Ravitch would actually be able to preside at the special session of the Senate called for 3 p.m. Thursday.
Many in office, including Republican Sen. Dean Skelos of Nassau County, denounced Paterson's actions claiming that they were unconstitutional.
"Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has already said it's unconstitutional for the governor to appoint a lieutenant governor and I agree," Skelos said.
Skelos and Democratic Sen. Pedro Espada of the Bronx sent lawyers to the home of a Nassau County judge in the middle of the night. She signed a restraining order at 12:23 a.m. Thursday to temporarily stop Ravitch from presiding over the Senate. Lawyers for the governor are expected in court to undo that order, but it's unclear when.
Needless to say there were a lot of tense exchanges.
Lawyers for Skelos tried to reach Ravitch on his cell phone to ask for his address so they could serve him with papers, but Ravitch refused to tell them.
On Thursday, an angry Skelos claimed the governor tried to put one over on him by saying he would swear Ravitch in on Thursday when it was already done Wednesday night.
"The governor's habit of publicly saying one thing and secretly doing another is exactly the kind of hypocritical tactic he used when he secretly negotiated a disastrous budget that raised taxes and spending," Skelos said.
Meanwhile, Paterson said he would not order the former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman to preside in the Senate Thursday while various courts take up the issue.
Paterson, however, is convinced that was he did is totally constitutional and will ultimately be upheld.
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