George Pataki

“I don't think you expand entitlements when so many people are dependent on government and when the money the federal government is offering is going to be taken away from you after just a couple of years.”

“But, you know, all I can do is submit my budget and then make the case to the Legislature to act.”

“Well, I know I worked for Governor Rockefeller the last time he ran for his fourth term, and I obviously ran against Governor Cuomo the time he ran for his fourth term.”

“Religious liberty doesn't include encouraging a fellow American to engage in violent jihad and kill an American here. That is not protected free speech. That is not protected religious belief.”

“For the first time federal, state and local bureaus of investigation are coordinating their effort, to serve as eyes and ears and protect us against further attacks.”

“When I left, there were over 1 million fewer people on welfare in New York state than when I took office, replacing dependency with opportunity.”

“This Budget reflects a choice - not an easy choice, but the right choice. And when you think about it, the only choice. The choice to take the responsible, prudent path to fiscal stability, economic growth and opportunity.”

“We are going through tough economic times but things are looking up, and the indicators are improving not only for large corporations but also for small business.”

“If someone lives in New York, he's a New Yorker - they are entitled to the best medical system in the world.”

“We have been actively trying to have New York City host the 2012 Olympics.”

“Israel has always been and must always be America's strongest ally.”

“And one of the frustrating parts, but it's an inherent part of our democracy, is we have separation of powers.”

“We passed important laws to give the authorities responsible for investigation wide powers to defend us.”

“Our decade of change has unleashed the ingenuity, creativity, and character of the most extraordinary people in the world - the people of this state, who come from every corner of the globe.”

“Israel is a country that respects freedom - freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of worship.”

“I knew that good people who wanted to be a part of the American dream have become trapped in dependency because the federal government and the state government had made it in their economic interest not to take a job because the benefits that they didn't work were better. I changed that.”

“We can't just throw a switch and say Indian Point is going to be safe, we have to look long-term because it will ultimately be decommissioned and we have to work aggressively now to bring in new sources of power.”

“The expansion of tobacco cessation centers is an important part of our historic and continuing effort to help smokers quit. The expansion of these centers will give even more New Yorkers the help they need to quit once and for all.”

“What I did in New York was bring people together, an overwhelmingly Democratic state. But I was able to get Democrats to support the most conservative sweeping policy changes in any state in America.”

“I'm thinking about governing as the governor of this state, and that's what I'm going to do.”