ALBANY - Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer on Monday pledged to work in “an open and transparent manner” with legislative leaders when he takes office in January but said he would take his case to voters if necessary.
On his first day back in Albany after a landslide election victory last week, Spitzer met with the majority and minority leaders of both houses of the Legislature. They said they would work to seek compromise and all expressed optimism that could be done.
“One thing this election stands for, I believe, is that the public will not tolerate stagnation, will not tolerate gridlock, will not tolerate the bickering that has all too often overtaken politics, not only here but across the nation,” Spitzer said.
Gov. George Pataki, Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have long been criticized for their “three-men-in-a-room” budget negotiations that traditionally excluded rank-and-file lawmakers from decision making and for years led to late state budgets.
“There will be public meetings and there will be many public conversations,” said Spitzer, who also vowed to include more lawmakers in decision making. “I'm ready to rally the public at this point, not against any person, party or institution. I'm ready to rally the public.”
Spitzer and the lawmakers talked about a number of issues, including cutting property taxes, but Spitzer would not divulge any details about what was discussed.
Earlier, Spitzer met with the leaders of government watchdog groups that for years have pushed to change the state's campaign finance laws, lobbying regulations, the way legislative districts are drawn and legislative rules that give most power to the majority leaders in the Senate and Assembly, among other issues.
Spitzer made reforming Albany a top priority during his run for governor and the groups, including the New York Public Interest Research Group, the New York chapter of Common Cause, Citizen Action, the League of Women Voters and the Brennan Center for Justice, said they are hopeful Spitzer will push the Legislature to act on those issues.
“We know the election is over. We still think the reform movement continues,” said Sen. David Paterson, the lieutenant-governor elect
“One thing this election stands for, I believe, is that the public will not tolerate stagnation, will not tolerate gridlock, will not tolerate the bickering that has all too often overtaken politics, not only here but across the nation,” Spitzer said.
Gov. George Pataki, Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have long been criticized for their “three-men-in-a-room” budget negotiations that traditionally excluded rank-and-file lawmakers from decision making and for years led to late state budgets.
“There will be public meetings and there will be many public conversations,” said Spitzer, who also vowed to include more lawmakers in decision making. “I'm ready to rally the public at this point, not against any person, party or institution. I'm ready to rally the public.”
Spitzer and the lawmakers talked about a number of issues, including cutting property taxes, but Spitzer would not divulge any details about what was discussed.
Earlier, Spitzer met with the leaders of government watchdog groups that for years have pushed to change the state's campaign finance laws, lobbying regulations, the way legislative districts are drawn and legislative rules that give most power to the majority leaders in the Senate and Assembly, among other issues.
Spitzer made reforming Albany a top priority during his run for governor and the groups, including the New York Public Interest Research Group, the New York chapter of Common Cause, Citizen Action, the League of Women Voters and the Brennan Center for Justice, said they are hopeful Spitzer will push the Legislature to act on those issues.
“We know the election is over. We still think the reform movement continues,” said Sen. David Paterson, the lieutenant-governor elect
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