Former Republican Gov. George Pataki — joining forces with current Democratic Gov. Cuomo — slammed national leaders Wednesday for permitting the federal government shutdown.
“It’s hard to say this calmly, but government has to work. When you look at what is happening in Washington, it’s extremely sad for the people of this country,” said Pataki, who flirted with running for president, said during a press conference at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y.
“Elections are political. Governing should be about the people and the public interest.”
In a coup, Cuomo, who is running for re-election next year and is said to have White House ambitions, persuaded Pataki to co-chair his tax-cutting commission along with SUNY chairman Carl McCall, the former state comptroller.
Pataki even joked that he thought Cuomo dialed the wrong number when the current governor personally called him and asked him to serve on the panel.
But Pataki — who ousted Andrew’s Cuomo’s dad, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, from the statehouse in 1994 —said the younger Cuomo convinced him that the panel’s work would be a serious effort to bring tax relief to New Yorkers.
“I believe that this commission can work together in the public interest and suggest significant tax relief that will help the people of this state with their tax burden and will help our economy grow to create the jobs we need,” Pataki said.
For his part, Cuomo wants the commission to come up with recommendations to reduce New York’s sky high property tax burden and lower businesses taxes. He said appointing Pataki shows the panel will take in to account diverse view points and work in a bi-partisan partisan manner, unlike the President Obama and Congress.
“We’ve seen the alternative in Washington. We’ve seen what gridlock can do . . . . Everybody loses,” Cuomo said.