That's what he said, but it isn't true. He had no trouble saying no when he wanted to, unlike his members who are required to say yes. What he said yes to is what he has done. Silver's supporters have been given taken the highest state and local tax burden as a share of personal income in the U.S., and have provided less in return, mostly by diverting resources to those who do not work. Yes the Republicans and their contractor and Wall Street backers got their piece and their tax breaks too. And to keep the serfs from objecting, most of the cost was pushed off to a future none of them cared about to be inhabited by people none of them care about either. We will pay more and more, and get less and less, as the beneficiaries die or leave for Florida with the difference.
Pataki and Bruno are gone, Thank God, but their damage lives on. Silver's still increases. There were no dictators. Silver and his backers got their piece of our hides.