Pataki makes secret plan to fund libraries in only GOP districts

[UpInArms]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--latebudget0922sep22,0,1976605.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Republican Assembly members who helped block Democrats' attempt to override Gov. George Pataki's budget vetoes are working out a plan to restore the governor's cuts to public libraries _ but only in Republican districts.

Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt confirmed the private negotiations Wednesday, the latest game of political hardball in Albany between the Republican governor and Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The defeat of Silver's attempted override was a blow to Silver, who accused Pataki of meddling with his chamber's business and of inducing legislators not to do their jobs by trying to get them to skip Monday's session.

Nesbitt said a deal to fund his members' politically important local libraries is likely to be announced in days. Pataki is expected to pay for the aid through discretionary funds, which wouldn't require approval of an appropriation by Silver and the other 101 Democrats in the Assembly.

<snip>

Pataki spokesman Kevin Quinn wouldn't comment when asked if the Republican governor was negotiating only with Republicans.

...more...

[Catherine Vincent]

1. How depressing.

New York state need to vote his ass out!

[Carla in Ca]

15. Kerry has to win. If * does, Pataki is new VP

n/t

[yardwork]

2. Totally un-American

I hope that librarians and library patrons all over the state repudiate these tactics.

What's next? Public bonfires of books?

[Stephanie]

4. No, next is public bonfires of Democrats

How far are Republicans iwlling to go in abuse of power? This stinks like a Tom Delay plan.

[July]

13. GOP politics -- party over country, only Republican citizens are served.

Un-American is the best word for it.

[donco6]

3. Actually, maybe that's good.

Who needs to be reading more books? I think Dems are keeping up pretty well. Maybe some longer library hours might get some of those uninformed rednecks in the door.

Now when the RW legislature starts controlling what books are IN the library, then I'll be upset.

[Shallah Kali]

8. No this isn't good, there are too many dems who don't vote

they need motivation to get to the polls this and every election. Stuff like this makes me think the RW wants to keep American uninformed so people won't think and won't vote. That way their highly devoted followers can swing every election their way.

[donco6]

12. I should have put the sarcasm signal on.

Just goofing around. I think it's deplorable.

[trogdor]

17. You hit the nail on the head.

Fortunately, librarians aren't afraid to hit back. I happen to live in one of those Republican districts (115 - Townsend), and our town library is participating in this promotion where every kid reads Fahrenheit 451. If that isn't a finger in the eye of those who would exercise political control over libraries, I don't know what is.

For my part, I donated my collection of "left" literature, most of which gets brisk circulation.

[Richardo]

5. Your own.....personal....DeLay

Someone to bypass the Dems,
One party rule!

Reach out touch Feith!

[otohara]

6. My Son Goes To Beautiful Suburban Library

now because - Denver libraries are closed at 7PM - beautiful Cherry Hills Village open until 9PM

[AlCzervik]

7. Do republcans even use libraries?

Isnt this illegal? WTF?

[onenote]

9. absolutely

they go into them, look around, and make lists of books they want removed.

onenote

[llmart]

10. The Republicans that come into the library where I work....

just take out DVD's and videos. Oh, yeah, and O'Reilly's book on CD. I don't think they know how to read.

[KurtNYC]

11. Only when they want to build bon fires

or conduct experiments to verify that paper does in fact burn at 451 fahrenheit.

[David Zephyr]

14. Kick!

:kick:

[flordehinojos]

16. He will probably fill all of them with books on

the life of Hitler, the writngs of PNAC Bill Krystol, The AUTHORIZED Bush biography ... WELL, you get the drift.