Common Cause/NY Calls for Paterson's Resignation
March 5th, 2010
Good government group Common Cause/NY is calling on Gov. David Paterson to resign. “Given the fiscal and governmental crisis enveloping our state, we at Common Cause/New York have come to the reluctant conclusion that it would be in the best interest of the people of the State of New York for Governor Paterson to step aside as governor,” said Susan Lerner the organizations executive director. Common Cause/NY is the first major good government group to call for Paterson’s resignation.
“As events have unfolded over the last several weeks, the allegations of abuse of power and criminal conduct by the governor have become the sole focus in Albany, at a time when the undivided attention and full creativity of the state’s leaders must be devoted to addressing the state’s very grave fiscal crisis,” said Lerner.
Common Cause stood behind Paterson when he proposed tough ethics reforms. The group supported Paterson’s stance against the ethics package agreed to and passed by the legislature, saying the bill was watered down.
“A resignation at this time should not be seen as an admission of guilt or wrong-doing,” Lerner said. “It would be a pragmatic, self-sacrificing action that will allow us to move forward, much as Gov. Paterson’s appointment of Richard Ravitch did.”
By David King on March 5, 2010, 11:59 amIn category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »



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