Richard Ravitch and David Paterson Appear Together in Albany News Conference
ALBANY, NY (WCBS 880 / AP) -- New York Gov. David Paterson says his new lieutenant governor won't immediately preside over a special Senate session because pending legal action has muddied the situation.
A judge in Nassau County issued a temporary restraining order overnight barring former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Richard Ravitch from taking over as lieutenant governor. Republicans say the order blocks the Democratic governor from having Ravitch provide a tie-breaking vote in the deadlocked chamber.
Paterson says he's taking the dispute to a state appeals court in Brooklyn on Thursday.
Appointing Ravitch was supposed to help resolve a monthlong gridlock in the Senate that started when a mostly Republican faction tried to take power from the shaky Democratic majority in a June 8 coup.
Paterson Lawyer: Cuomo Won't Represent New York Governor: A lawyer for New York Gov. David Paterson says Attorney General Andrew Cuomo declined to represent the governor in the legal dispute over his appointment of veteran troubleshooter Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor. READ MORE>>
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