Hometown News: Paterson Visit

Governor David Paterson will be in Buffalo this afternoon to announce the creation of the "Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship Fund." Everyone on board the flight and one person on the ground was killed when the Continental plane crashed into a home on approach to landing in Buffalo February 12. Paterson will make today's announcement at the University at Buffalo at 3 p.m.

The Governor has offered to meet with leaders of the Seneca Nation to discuss taxing non-Indian cigarette sales. A sit-down is scheduled for this afternoon in Amherst. The two sides have been wrangling since Paterson signed a law to begin collecting the taxes. Yesterday Paterson lashed out at the Senecas, saying they have not been cooperative and did not want to talk. The Governor says the tax-free cigarettes cost the state about one billion dollars in revenues and hurt small businesses who are required to pay taxes.

Paterson will also hold a Town Hall meeting in Niagara Falls this evening.

In the last month, The Governor's approval among his constituents has plummeted. According to a new Marist Poll, just 26-percent of registered voters report the governor is doing either an excellent or good job in office. That's a drop of 20 percentage points since the Marist Poll last asked this question at the end of January. In fact, Governor Paterson's approval rating is the lowest approval rating a New York State governor has received in the Marist Poll's nearly 30-year history of statewide surveys. A majority of registered voters in New York State say they would rather vote for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani if the election were held today.