Just watched David Paterson's first press conference following Spitzer's resignation. My first impression is that he's much funnier than I imagined. Toward the end, he made a lobbyist joke that cracked up the crowd so hard, I felt like I was watching a comedy show at the Apollo.
But in all seriousness (a line Paterson employed a couple of times after jokes), Paterson looked very composed and confident. He talked about the need to pass the budget in a timely and effective manner, especially in the face of an economic downturn. And he didn't shy away from talking about taxes, which is sure to be a contentious, partisan issue in the coming weeks.
New York lawmakers must pass a budget by April 1.
On Monday at noon, Spitzer will hand over control of the state to Paterson, who will become the 55th governor of New York and the state's first African American chief executive.
Good post.
ReplyDeleteHowever:
The correct spelling is Paterson.
It's just like Paterson, NJ.