(NY Governor) Pataki grants no holiday clemencies

ALBANY - Lame-duck Gov. George E. Pataki, eyeing a run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, said Tuesday there will be no Christmas-season clemencies from him this year.

It marks the third time in his 12-year tenure that Pataki has issued no clemencies during the holiday season. There were no executive clemencies granted in 1998 or 2004.

Pataki's decision drew a rebuke from an advocate for inmates.

"He's going out as Ebenezer Scrooge before the ghost of Jacob Marley appeared rather than the Ebenezer Scrooge who has seen the light of what Christmas should be - a joyful and merciful season," said Robert Gangi, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York. "This is very disappointing."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20061227/1066481.asp