In Mounting Spat, Bruno Calls Spitzer ‘Dictator'

The end-of-session sparring between Governor Spitzer and the state Senate majority leader, Joseph Bruno, is heating up, with Mr. Bruno calling Mr. Spitzer "some little rich kid having a tantrum" and saying he needs to realize "we're not in a Third World country where he is a dictator."

Mr. Spitzer also ratcheted up the fight, mounting a slide show on his Web site under the title "Unfinished Business." It places blame for Albany's legislative deadlock squarely on Senate Republicans.

In one slide, Mr. Spitzer contrasts his stance on campaign finance legislation to that of Senate Republicans, saying he wants to lower contribution limits and increase transparency while the other side wants the "status quo."

Another slide quotes Mr. Bruno as saying: "I laugh when I read that people gain access by their contributions. So what? So what?"

Mr. Bruno said on NY1's "Inside City Hall" yesterday that he is willing to return to Albany to keep working but won't allow Mr. Spitzer to hold his members hostage on campaign finance legislation.

"He is running around the state literally having a tantrum because he can't get his way," Mr. Bruno said.

Mr. Bruno, who is supporting Mayor Giuliani's White House bid, also said Mayor Bloomberg would make a great president.