This Week in Politics

Two governors in the Tri-State area have made the news headlines this past week. New York Governor David Paterson , started off this week amid allegation of a sex and or drug scandal. The governor’s office did not take much time to respond that the allegations have no truth to them.

Many sources that knew specifics about the alleged story were stating it would seriously make him consider stepping down from office.

This story wound not have been the first sex scandal around Governor Paterson. Paterson first came into office after a sex scandal threw out the former administration led by Eliot Spitzer, with the story seeming all too familiar to New York residents.

While appearing on “Larry King Live” Governor Paterson stated "I wish they would make a clarifying statement so I could be out of my misery."

Some find the allegations suspicious due to more powerful forces that want the governor to step down. With recent elections failures plaguing the Democratic Party, President Obama had already asked Governor Paterson to step aside and allow Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to run for the governorship.

Do not be surprised if stories and allegations come out periodically with Governor Paterson. With an approval rating hitting new lows and 76% of people saying that he is a doing a poor or a fair job, this could spell political problems for the Democratic Party in New York (a heavily blue state).

Just to the south, Governor Christie has frozen state spending by stopping the flow of spending to schools that had excess funds. Democrats are furious about this action, which also freezes and changes the amount of money in pensions of retired government officials.

With many states in a finical crisis, Governor Christie claims that if these actions were not taken and if spending cuts are not made, in the future the state of New Jersey could face bankruptcy.

It has yet to be determined whether these cuts will force job losses in the education system. While Republicans state that schools have been foolishly spending money, Democrats state that any job losses in the education system will be bad. Governor Christie ended by stating that this may just be the first to a wave of spending cuts.

Below is a press conference by Governor Paterson addressing the rumors and allegations that have been swirling around him.


-Ethan Keller