New York governor said to weigh resignation

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) is said to be weighing resignation after being linked to a multi-state prostitution ring.

Spitzer apologized yesterday to his family and the public. But he did not acknowledge being a client of a prostitution service that allegedly supplied him with a prostitute from New York during one of his visits to Washington, D.C.

Spitzer is only the fourth governor in history to concur with a two-part determination for an off-reservation casino. He supported the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's project in the Catskills, but the Bush administration in January rejected the tribe's land-into-trust application.

When he was campaigning for governor, Spitzer vowed to collect tobacco and gasoline taxes on reservations. But the state hasn't implemented a law that requires Indian businesses to remit taxes on the sale of goods to non-Indians.

When he was attorney general, Spitzer sought to limit the sale of tobacco over the Internet. He entered into agreements with major credit card companies to block transactions with Internet companies, many of which are located on the Seneca Reservation.

If Spitzer resigns, Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson would take over and serve the remainder of the term.

Get the Story:
Aides Say They Expect Spitzer to Resign (The New York Times 3/11)
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Failure to collect smoke taxes is costly (Business First of Buffalo 3/11)