Spitzer's First 100 Days

Governor Eliot Spitzer assumed office in January with something very few new governors had ever had before...a sweeping mandate.

Having won nearly 70% of the vote in the general election, and carrying every Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly district, Spitzer took office with an enormous amount of political capital to spend, and he wasn't afraid to spend it.

Spitzer faced the state legislature head on, working with them to overhaul workers' compensation, keeping sexual predators off the streets, and promote ethics in Albany. He got a budget passed, only 11 hours late.

Governor Spitzer hasn't feared defeat however, he took them on, and it's debatable if he should've, concerning the election of a new State Comptroller. He lost that battle with the legislature, who, to the Governor's chegrin, elected Long Island Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli to the position over other candidates listed by a committe set up by the Governor. He caved to the state legislature on hospital spending and school spending, but was successfull in doing what former Democratic Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo failed to do in the 1970's and 80's, funnel more education money into the poorer schools.

Spitzer's approval rating has taken a beating in his first 100 days. Partially as a result of those commercials aired to attack the Governor's cuts in Medicaid; one such commercial shows an eldery lady threatening to give up and die if Spitzer cuts her Medicaid. Any Governor would see his or her popularity plummet when they are "killing old ladies." Approval ratings don't mean much in the first few months, especially when one won his seat with 70% of the vote. Spitzer's political limits are being realized.