Thursday, December 20, 2007

2006: We Don't Need No Stinkin' Lobbyists;
2007: Nevermind

"Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer announced his transition team this morning, stressing that he has decided to allow no elected officials and no lobbyists to participate in order to 'maintain the public’s confidence' in the process of transferring power from the old Pataki administration to the new Spitzer administration." - Capitol Confidential, November 9, 2006

“'We can say that the public has spoken and the public cares about this,' . . . 'We will be in a position to change the dynamic, speak with a unified voice—and trust me, it’s going to be a very different decision process.' . . . 'Boy,' said Spitzer running mate David Paterson, 'are they in for a surprise.'" - N.Y. Observer, November 12, 2006

"Some of the names being discussed to replace Alan Hevesi as state controller: Bill Mulrow, investment banker, former candidate for state controller in 2002. A graduate of Harvard and Yale, Mulrow ran a solid race against Hevesi in 2002 and has a strong financial background. But his work as a lobbyist since then could pose a conflict." -N.Y. Daily News, December 22, 2006

"There has been no official announcement or explanation of what role investment banker/Democratic big Bill Mulrow will play in the Spitzer universe, but someone with intimate knowledge of the set-up explained he will serve largely as a goodwill ambassador of sorts for the governor, seeking to shore up ties between the executive and his erstwhile supporters - particularly those who are members of organized labor." - The Daily Politics, December 20, 2007

Boy, you were right Mr. Paterson. We were in for a surprise in 2007.