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Paterson expected to stick to Spitzer's agenda

BY MELISSA MANSFIELD | Newsday Staff Writer

When Eliot Spitzer won the governorship with 69 percent of the vote, he trumpeted that the public had given him a "mandate" for reform.

Now, many political observers are pondering what will become of his ambitious change agenda and other priorities as Spitzer's future becomes uncertain and many speculate that Lt. Gov. David Paterson may take over by week's end.

"It's hard to know what Governor Paterson would have in mind, but being the lieutenant governor, I assume they are on the same wavelength," said Assemb. Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst). "Considering the fact that we are midway through the session already, it would be difficult ... to change things abruptly, so I would anticipate that Governor Paterson would move forward with essentially the same kind of programs and agenda that Governor Spitzer had." Many good-government groups expect that efforts to clean up Albany would continue if Paterson takes the helm.

Barbara Bartoletti of the League of Women Voters said Paterson would wait until the budget is resolved before laying out his agenda, and she hopes reform would be on his list. "While he was in the legislature, clean elections was one of his bills," she said of Paterson, who represented Harlem in the Senate for 22 years.

Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who served beside Paterson, said his "agenda has been a lot more liberal than what Eliot Spitzer's has been," pointing to the lieutenant governor's support of a commuter tax and opposition to the death penalty. "He carries an urban agenda against fairness to the suburban communities," Skelos said.

In New York City yesterday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters he had spoken to Spitzer by phone, but didn't respond when asked what the situation would mean for the city. If Spitzer resigns, congestion pricing, in particular, could fall victim to a scandal-induced paralysis, depending how quickly he leaves and how well the transition is handled.

The state has until March 31 to approve a plan to charge motorists to enter certain parts of Manhattan, or lose out on $354 million in federal mass transit funding.

In the Capitol, the Assembly and Senate got back to business, meeting to approve three members of the Board of Regents. The Senate also released an outline of its proposed budget and the Assembly was expected to follow suit today.

Not all business was back on track, however. By midday, most of the week's scheduled news conferences had been canceled.

As lawmakers ponder the crisis, another significant issue was being discussed: the balance of power, especially in the Senate.

Russ Haven, legislative counsel for the New York Public Interest Research Group, said he doesn't think the situation will help the GOP retain its edge in the chamber. Republicans hold 32 seats and the Democrats 30. Observers have speculated, however, that without Spitzer as a fundraiser Democratic efforts to take control may be in vain.

"Everybody's up for re-election in November and I think this is one of those situations where it ends up being a pox on everybody's house," Haven said.

When asked whether the controversy could help his party, Skelos emphasized that seven months is a long time. "No one thought that Barack Obama [could] be the Democratic candidate and that John McCain would be ours," he said referring to the GOP's odds. Everybody thought it was going to be Rudy versus Hillary. It's a long way to go."

Staff writer Karla Schuster contributed to this story.