EDITORIAL: Now that he's nominee, Lazio owes voters a more detailed plan

The quiet paralysis emanating from Albany gives no clue that New York is in crisis. But solutions are more urgently needed than state leaders would have us believe. The Republican Party response yesterday was to nominate former Rep. Rick Lazio of Brightwaters as its candidate for governor.

It's a shame that, in the nomination process, the GOP shut down a potentially vigorous primary. Many party stalwarts believe that uniting behind one candidate will give them the best shot in their uphill battle to win the governor's mansion. But the state's problems are so intractable that the more ideas and debate to arise during this election year, the better.

Lazio now owes it to the people of New York to present a clear, detailed platform of how he would repair the state's troubles - from the $9.2-billion budget deficit to official corruption to a sluggish climate for economic recovery. The Democratic nominee, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, has laid out his positions in a 224-page book. Lazio has released a plan, and now he must flesh out more details.

To be truly effective, New York's next executive must have a clear mandate for action. Our state is still grappling with the fallout from the recent economic collapse. The candidates should tell us specifically how they propose to lead us out of this quagmire. Then voters can deliver our next governor to Albany with a ready-to-go to-do list.

NOTE: An earlier version of this editorial may have given the impression that Lazio had not released a plan for governing New York. His plan is available at his campaign website.