Lame Duck Governor Keeps Busy
August 14th, 2006
After twelve years behind the wheel of state government, Governor George Pataki has less than five months left in office. While technically a lame duck, Pataki still has full gubernatorial powers to effect change across the state through legislation, executive orders, appointments, and other tools of the office. As he eyes the White House, Governor Pataki’s actions these next couple of month are all the more intriguing.
This weekend, news outlets across the state covered Pataki’s latest actions:
The Daily News reports that on Monday, August 14 Governor Pataki is expected to sign a set of laws addressing the health problems suffered by the rescue workers after 9/11. These new laws would allow workers who became sick after the two-year workers’ compensation deadline passed in 2003 to resubmit claims for consideration; grant full line-of-duty death benefits to the families of uniformed workers who died after participating in the rescue efforts; allow recovery workers to have their retirement status re-labeled as “accidental disability” if health problems arise; and form a commission to study the long-term health impacts of working at Ground Zero.
The Albany Times Union reports that Governor Pataki is considering trips to China, Japan and India this fall, perhaps to explore setting up a trade office in Shanghai with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. In his executive budget, Pataki set aside $225,000 to set up the office, which he says would allow the state to develop relationships with both the Chinese government and Chinese businesses, but the Legislature removed it from the budget. Pataki’s office has not confirmed any travel plans as of yet.
The Staten Island Advance reports that the Legislature passed a seven-bill package of on organ donation, which now await Governor Pataki’s signature. The package includes measures to change organ-donation registrations from records of intent to records of consent; to commission a study on presumed consent to organ donation; fund a public awareness program for donation; establish tax credits for donors and their families; provide for voluntary contribution from drivers license applications to donation research and awareness; change the drivers licenses of donors to display the status on the front; and rename the state’s organ registry to the Donate Life Registry. Pataki has not said publicly whether he intends to sign or veto the legislation.
The Mercury News reports that while on a visit to Iowa to campaign for Congressional candidates, Governor Pataki stated that in order to succeed in this fall’s midterm elections, the Republican Party must return to core conservative themes that distinguish them from Democrats. He also stated that national security will be a big issue in the fall elections, and that Republicans have a clear advantage in that area. It is speculated that the visit was also meant to test the waters for a possible presidential campaign, and so Pataki could begin to dispel the perception that he is a northeastern moderate in New York, where the Republican Party is staunchly conservative.
The North Country Gazette reports that Governor Pataki has officially launched the Restore NY initiative, a program that is meant to aid cities across the state in financing efforts to revitalize urban centers, promote economic development, and improve housing. In the 2006-07 budget, the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) was granted $300 million to implement the program. Pataki has directed that ESDC officials hold meetings with local authorities across the state to discuss and explain the new initiative, and these meetings are expected to begin next week.
By Doug Israel on August 14, 2006, 4:29 pmIn category: Eye on Albany | No Comments »

