Assembly Ways and Means Committee

What with the heated rhetoric and cancelled events, you have to wonder how the shambolic relations between Eliot Spitzer and the legislature will affect their ability to conduct ordinary government business. Like, say, passing a budget on time.

That's something that has happened, somewhat miraculously, for two years in a row now. Is this the end of an era?

Assembly Ways and Means Committee member Adriano Espaillat says no.

Espaillat, who campaigned in his district with Spitzer in the days before the election, said, "I think that our goal will be to get a budget on time, April, and that cooler heads will prevail. We got to separate the politics from government."

Is that possible?

"As a result of our unparalleled victories and unity, and the fact that the party is the strongest its ever been, I believe we have accomplished the lofty goals set for us when I took this job.

"With that in mind, I am proud and humbled to announce that I have decided to step down as state chairman, effective January 1. I do intend to remain as Manhattan county leader and chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

"I know that whoever is chosen to be my successor will inherit a strong and united party, and will do a wonderful job."

If you have any details to add to the Farrell legacy that may not have made it into this official version, feel free.

Full statement after the jump.  read more »