Grading Spitzer's budget.(Viewpoint)(Eliot Spitzer)

Crain's New York Business, April, 2007

Gov. eliot spitzer roared into office with a smashing election victory promising to change Albany's dysfunctional ways on Day One. Now, after tortuous negotiations over the budget, he has switched cliches, saying that Rome wasn't built in a day. He leaves voters who want fundamental reforms with the queasy feeling that even the crusading Mr.

Spitzer may not be able to accomplish very much. With the hope that he will do better next year, here's the report card on Mr. Spitzer's first budget. Process: FThe biggest problem in Albany is that power is concentrated in three people--the governor, Assembly speaker and Senate majority leader--who primarily act at the behest of special interests. This year's budget was negotiated exactly like every other one--by those...

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