It could almost be a relief to (Senate Majority leader) Trent Lott (R-Miss.). The rules really favor the minority if they've got their act together.

They have a very vocal tiny minority of American citizens who overwhelm the majority because they are so vocal and they're so vehement. So politicians are afraid of them,

The acts of the minority are affecting the majority and causing the closure of public lands. Just because of a few people that break the law we have to suffer.

You can't create a majority with this election. You can increase the regular minority vote on the council, but you're not going to change the outcome.

He's worked very hard to try to overcome that ... (but) as a minority member of the Senate, of course, accomplishments are thin. There's not a policy record there. There's not successes to point to.

Governor Pataki, Senate Minority Leader David Paterson and the other state leaders on both sides of the aisle who are fighting to protect these valuable initiatives deserve great credit. The veto is the right thing to do, and we urge lawmakers to let it stand.