Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo says he's ready to do battle with the state's special interests

 Things need to change.........there is no more money in the till........federal stimulus money is gone...spent.....take your time Andrew......it took the state  years to get into this mess......not everything associated with state government is bad.....there are lot of dedicated state workers trying to do the job they were hired to do........we all need to work together..to get the state back in shape......andy

BY Glenn Blain
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU

Tuesday, November 23rd 2010, 12:21 PM

Harbus for News

Andrew Cuomo said he's ready to spend the $4 million left in his campaign account and raise more money to build public support for his reform agenda.

ALBANY - Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo has a message for Albany's special interests - get ready for the fight of your life!
Cuomo said Tuesday he's prepared to do battle with the state's powerful public employees unions and other interest groups in a "more aggressive, comprehensive fashion" than ever before.
"They will attack me," Cuomo told Albany's Talk 1300 radio station. "I understand it and I understand why they do it. I anticipate it and I am prepared for it. "
Cuomo said he's ready to spend the $4 million left in his campaign account and raise more money to build public support for his reform agenda. He also promised to rally business and labor groups to help him fend off special interests attacks.
"I understand the argument that they are going to make," Cuomo said. "I have a contrary argument. I have an argument that the people of this state just endorsed. I have an agenda that the people of this state just endorsed by a very large margin."
Cuomo also warned state lawmakers that they, too, could feel his wrath if they side with the special interests.
"If the Legislature wants to chose the special interests, then I want to make it clear to the people of the state of New York exactly what their choices were," Cuomo said.
Cuomo's remarks came as the Civil Service Employees Association and other state employee unions launch ad campaigns against planned job cuts.
They also came a day after Cuomo railed against an empty reform school that still employs 30 workers because of a law that requires a year's notice before the state can shutter a facility.
"It really magnifies just the lack of competence of the state government," Cuomo said about the Tryon Center for Boys in upstate Johnstown.
"And how powerful the special interests are in Albany where the Legislature, frankly, is dominated by these special interests and even when they are doing a bizarre disservice to the taxpayers, the domination of the special interests wins."