Republicans: Court suspends NY Lt Gov plan

By By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press Writer

Story Created: Jul 9, 2009 at 8:38 AM EST

Story Updated: Jul 9, 2009 at 8:38 AM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Republicans say they've secured a court
order suspending Governor David Paterson's plan to appoint a lieutenant
governor to preside over the gridlocked New York Senate.

GOP Senate spokesman John McArdle said Thursday that a judge in
Nassau County issued the order overnight. He says it temporarily
suspends Paterson's plan to have Richard Ravitch provide a tie-breaking vote and preside over the Senate.

The governor's office did not immediately return a call for comment.

Ravitch says he was sworn in at 8 p.m. Wednesday, hours after
Paterson made the surprise appointment long thought to be constitutionally prohibited.

The Senate has been gridlocked since a June 8 coup by a Republican-dominated coalition over the Democratic conference that thought it won the majority.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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