N.Y. governor vetoes artwork bill

ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- New York Gov. George Pataki has vetoed a bill that would have allowed museums to take ownership of abandoned artwork, the New York Post reported Saturday.

Pataki argued that the legislation would make it difficult for Holocaust survivors and their heirs to reclaim property stolen by the Nazis.

The bill was meant to allow nonprofit museums to claim ownership of artwork that had been on loan for more than five years without being reclaimed.

Pataki said the bill's intent was "laudable," but it needs to be rewritten to avoid interfering with groups like the state Holocaust Claims Processing Office.