Schumer says he has not told Paterson his preference for Senate seat

Sen. Chuck Schumer says he's told Governor Paterson his opinion on each of the candidates for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton, but that he has not expressed who his preference is.

In a satellite interview with Greg Floyd Thursday, Schumer said, "I have said to the Governor the criteria, one of which is paying attention to upstate New York. I have told the Governor what I think of each of the candidates, and the overwhelming majority I think really highly of, and I think any one of them would be good, but I haven't said who my preference is. That's the Governor's decision."

Sen. Clinton's confirmation hearing for Secretary of State under President-elect Obama is set for Tuesday. Once she is confirmed, Gov. Paterson would have the power to appoint her Senate successor.

Caroline Kennedy has been lobbying publicly for the seat; other names being mentioned as candidates for the seat include state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo; Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand; Congressman Steve Israel; and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.

Gov. Paterson has been reticent about his selection process for the Senate pick, although he said in a radio interview this morning he's talked to about ten candidates so far, plans to speak to four or five more next week, and then "will make a decision on who's the best candidate."

Sen. Schumer, too, has remained quiet on the subject, saying he wanted to "stay out of it" and leave it to the Governor.

Schumer made the remarks at the end of an interview pushing a proposal to bring federal aid directly to local upstate counties, including the Capital Region. Schumer says he's asking for additional millions from the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to help stave off property tax hikes and close budget gaps.

"Medicaid is a huge burden... and because of it, for counties to raise taxes at this time, makes no sense at all," he said. "This [plan] should be a real shot in the arm in relief for counties for two years, hopefully, until we get out of this recession."

Counties in the Capital Region would receive $42.8 million in budget relief if the proposal is passed.

And on the economic stimulus proposal presented by President-elect Barack Obama this morning, Sen. Schumer said he didn't want to make drastic changes to the plan. "I don't think we should tinker with it very much. We should make sure there's oversight, transparency, accountability. But we should get that money into the economy quickly. Our goal -- now, as a member of the Finance Committee, we're sort of in charge of this package in the Senate -- is to have it on the President's desk within a month, by Feb. 13th."

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