NEW YORK, NY May 03, 2007 —Proponents of congestion pricing now have a powerful lobbyist on their side. Environmental Defense has retained Pat Lynch, who once worked for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

REPORTER: The fate of Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to charge drivers who come into Manhattan south of 86th Street is up to Silver, the governor and the Republican Senate majority leader. Andy Darrell is regional director for Environmental Defense. He says the mayor's proposal is complex.

DARRELL: So I think there's work to be done to educate decision makers about the many ways in which the plan brings clean air benefits, transit benefits and a wide range of environmental benefits to all 5 boroughs.

REPORTER: Assemblyman Richard Brodsky has already complained that an $8 fee isn't fair to the working class. Bloomberg is expected to travel to Albany later this month to lobby for his proposal.