Updated 02/04/2010 08:31 PM
Paterson Says Cuomo Doesn't Address Major N.Y. Issues
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Governor David Paterson lashed out Thursday at his would-be Democratic opponent, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, saying that the undeclared candidate is not weighing in on the difficult issues facing the state.
For more on the war of words between Paterson and Cuomo, as well as a debate on the governor's decision to veto an ethics reform bill for state lawmakers, tune in to "Inside City Hall" at 7 and 10 o'clock tonight.
During an interview with WOR 710 AM, the governor said the attorney general is employing a "Rose Garden strategy" to avoid staking out a position on tough issues like the state budget and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
"Is this the openness and transparency? Is this the good government? Is this the progressive kind of leadership that we've been waiting for?" said the governor. "Someone who is so afraid of any kind of controversy that they're going to wait to the last minute, jump in, win the primary, win the general election and then the public will only find out what they think a year from now."
Cuomo is widely expected to jump into the governor's race, but has been coy in public about his plans. In a conference call with reporters Thursday to announce fraud charges against Bank of America executives, he fended off a question about the governor's remarks and argued that he is confronting the issues facing New Yorkers.
"I said as attorney general that I would fight corporate fraud and I would fight government fraud and that's what we do every day," said Cuomo. "That's the job that I was elected to do and that's the job that I'm doing."
Republican candidate for governor Rick Lazio also took aim at the attorney general Thursday while discussing the Obama administration's plans to hold the September 11th terror trials in federal court in Lower Manhattan.
"I am appalled that someone who is the chief legal officer for New York does not have an opinion and has not spoken out against this," said Lazio.
Cuomo did weigh in on the trial when asked about it during Thursday's conference call.
"It's a federal decision on the trial. My feeling is it would pose significant hardship to the city and to the state. It would be very expensive," Cuomo said.
Polls continue to show the attorney general with a big lead over Paterson in a possible Democratic primary, but it is unknown when Cuomo will announce his political plans.