Ruling Forces Pataki to Release Canal Records

[Robbien]

(Gannett) — ALBANY — Gov. George Pataki must turn over 600 pages of records that he sought to keep from Assembly Democrats who are investigating a controversial deal for development rights along the Erie Canal, an Albany judge ruled Thursday.

The Pataki administration had planned to appeal but changed course late Thursday and announced it would release the records today.

Lawyers for Pataki had argued that the records fall under an executive privilege allowing them to be kept secret to protect the ability of officials to freely debate issues before making decisions. They cited cases in which former President Richard Nixon and current Vice President Dick Cheney shielded documents from public view.

But state Supreme Court Justice Joseph Cannizzaro disagreed, saying the records should be turned over to shed light on the state Canal Corp.'s contract with Buffalo developer Richard Hutchens, who bought the right to build housing along the 524-mile canal system for $30,000. The contract was later rescinded.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=25462

[oneighty]

1. Gee!

Why investigate that? Seems like a good deal.

180

[Robbien]

2. What is outrageous is that Pataki was claiming Executive Priviledge

Executive Priviledge is only reserved for POTUS. Why would Pataki believe it applied to him.

[TahitiNut]

3. Well, he paid another $10,000, too.

HUTCHENS, RICHARD
BUFFALO,NY 14202
SELF-EMPLOYED/RICHARD HUTCHENS & AS
6/4/2001 $1,000 Quinn, Jack

HUTCHENS, RICHARD
BUFFALO,NY 14202
SELF-EMPLOYED/RICHARD HUTCHENS & AS
10/16/2002 $1,000 Quinn, Jack

HUTCHENS, RICHARD
BUFFALO,NY 14202
RICHARD A HUTCHENS & ASSOC
8/25/2000 $1,000 Franks, Bob

HUTCHENS, RICHARD A
BUFFALO,NY 14202
RICHARD HUTCHENS & ASSOCIATES/EXECU
7/18/2003 $1,000 Sweeney, John E

HUTCHENS, RICHARD A
BUFFALO,NY 14202
RICHARD HUTCHENS & ASSOCIATES/EXECU
8/16/2002 $1,000 Sweeney, John E

HUTCHENS, RICHARD A
BUFFALO,NY 14202
REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT
4/12/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W

HUTCHENS, RICHARD A
BUFFALO,NY 14202
REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT
9/3/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W

HUTCHENS, RICHARD A
BUFFALO,NY 14202
RICHARD A HUTCHENS & ASSOCIATES
7/31/2000 $1,000 Lazio, Rick A

HUTCHENS, RICHARD A
BUFFALO,NY 14202
RICHARD HUTCHENS & ASSOC
8/25/2000 $1,000 Franks, Bob

HUTCHENS, RICHARD A MRS
BUFFALO,NY 14202
HOMEMAKER
9/29/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W

HUTCHENS, RICHARD
BUFFALO,NY 14202
RAH TRADING COMPANY
1/22/2003 $500 National Republican Congressional Cmte

HUTCHENS, RICHARD A MR
BUFFALO,NY 14202
RICHARD A HUTCHENS & ASSOCIATES/PRO
8/24/2004 $500 Naples, Nancy A


http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?Order=A&txtName=Hutchens&txtState=NY&txtZip=14202&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=Y&txt1998=&txt1996=&txt1994=&txt1992=&txt1990=&txtSoft=N

[Moderator]

4. duplicate

locking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1109712