Friday, February 16, 2007
Spitzer's reform push Reduce the rancor, get on with the job
Newsday Editorial
So basically Newsday is telling Spitzer...keep the steamroller parked..but the engines running just in case..he needs to mow down a few non cooperative legislators.......sounds good to me :-) the three 'C' 's come to mind now....civility, cooperation and compromise...will get the job done and a state budget passed on time.........andy
Gov. Eliot Spitzer could not resist a sarcastic dig at Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) after Bruno presented him with a Valentine bouquet Wednesday. But Spitzer, who has rocked the state recently as the Steamroller of Albany, took the peace offering as it seemed to be intended: To reduce the rancor and return to the task of passing a reform-minded budget by the April 1 deadline.Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) shouldn't have broken their pledge to choose a comptroller approved by a panel of former fiscal watchdogs. Spitzer, who has been attacking lawmakers for a few unproductive weeks, shouldn't have meddled in the process. Nor should he have unfairly tarnished the reputation of Thomas DiNapoli after lawmakers made the former assemblyman comptroller.
But finally Spitzer has signaled that he is, at least temporarily, ready to deal civilly with the rest of Albany. That's a good sign. His overall agenda is crucial to moving the state forward. Even if the legislature has far from distinguished itself for many dysfunctional years, Spitzer can't get his budget or other proposals approved without its cooperation. Threats only drove lawmakers farther from the table.Spitzer should resist the temptation to squash all dissent, however selfish or small-minded it might be. Instead he should focus his considerable skills on winning sweeping, fundamental change - and give legislators a chance to cooperate. If they don't, then fire up that steamroller.
So basically Newsday is telling Spitzer...keep the steamroller parked..but the engines running just in case..he needs to mow down a few non cooperative legislators.......sounds good to me :-) the three 'C' 's come to mind now....civility, cooperation and compromise...will get the job done and a state budget passed on time.........andy
Gov. Eliot Spitzer could not resist a sarcastic dig at Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) after Bruno presented him with a Valentine bouquet Wednesday. But Spitzer, who has rocked the state recently as the Steamroller of Albany, took the peace offering as it seemed to be intended: To reduce the rancor and return to the task of passing a reform-minded budget by the April 1 deadline.Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) shouldn't have broken their pledge to choose a comptroller approved by a panel of former fiscal watchdogs. Spitzer, who has been attacking lawmakers for a few unproductive weeks, shouldn't have meddled in the process. Nor should he have unfairly tarnished the reputation of Thomas DiNapoli after lawmakers made the former assemblyman comptroller.
But finally Spitzer has signaled that he is, at least temporarily, ready to deal civilly with the rest of Albany. That's a good sign. His overall agenda is crucial to moving the state forward. Even if the legislature has far from distinguished itself for many dysfunctional years, Spitzer can't get his budget or other proposals approved without its cooperation. Threats only drove lawmakers farther from the table.Spitzer should resist the temptation to squash all dissent, however selfish or small-minded it might be. Instead he should focus his considerable skills on winning sweeping, fundamental change - and give legislators a chance to cooperate. If they don't, then fire up that steamroller.
