New York - Top Aid to Governor Pataki's Lashes Out on Speaker Silver

New York - A top aide to Gov. Pataki unleashed an unprecedented personal attack on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, after the Democrat called Pataki's top economic development adviser "corrupt" and more interested in his own purported "gambling interests" than in New York's well-being.

"For Shelly 'Vegas' Silver to lecture anyone about ethics is like a bad standup routine, especially since he's Alan Hevesi's biggest apologist, has employed a known offender, has covered up internal investigations and has presided over a body that had no less than seven of its members indicted, convicted, or resign under a cloud of disgrace," said David Catalfamo, Pataki's communications director.

Catalfamo was coming to the defense of Pataki's longtime economic czar, Charles Gargano, after Gargano was attacked by Silver. "It's laughable for him to lecture anyone about the economy, especially given the fact that he personally pushed through the biggest tax increase in state history and is in the pocket of special interests blocking crucial projects like Moynihan Station and West Side development," contended Catalfamo.