Politics on the Hudson

On Monday, Gov. David Paterson implored lawmakers to deal with the state’s budget deficit. But today, a deal did not appear imminent.

Despite a special session of the Legislature called by Paterson to close a $3.2 billion mid-year deficit, he and legislators remained at odds over how to remedy the state’s immediate fiscal problems.

Paterson gave a rare mid-year address to the Legislature on Monday, warning that the state faces running out of money if spending cuts aren’t made.

But that appeared to do little to persuade lawmakers to act. Instead, Senate Democrats continued to insist they would not support the roughly $1.3 billion in cuts Paterson has proposed, which would mainly hit schools and health care.

Senate Democrats had initially proposed no cuts, which was rejected by Paterson. But a compromise was still uncertain as lawmakers were expected to work into the night on other legislation proposed by Paterson.

A Senate official said this afternoon that Paterson initially appeared willing to accept cuts at slightly less than $1 billion, which the sides were working toward. But Paterson has since moved back to the $1.3 billion figure, the official said.

Legislators have reached on agreement on four of the nine items proposed by Paterson, but a bill to legalize same-sex marriage was likely to be put off by the Democratic-led Senate. There did not appear to be votes to pass the gay-marriage bill.

The Assembly and Senate spent much of the afternoon behind closed doors sorting out what pieces of legislation could pass.

Some Republicans, who are in the minority, knocked Democrats for failing to reach a budget deal. All 212 legislators returned to Albany, at taxpayers’ expense, but had no budget bills to vote on because the sides haven’t reached an agreement.

“To leave this town without coming up with some kind of deficit reduction package (DRP) would really be a travesty,” said Sen. Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie.

But Democrats they were trying to reach an agreement, and would likely come back next week to pass it.

“Hopefully we’ll get an agreement in principle in the DRP and have the specifics into bills that will age over the weekend and we’ll come back next week,” said Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, D-Bronx. “That’s the scenario that is reasonable at this point.”

Aides said that the sides were ready to pass four bills proposed by Paterson, and the bills were printed to be voted on:
—Making it easier for local governments to form cooperative health-benefit plans and other consolidations.
—Eliminating a loophole that allows certain serious felons to become eligible for parole earlier than intended.
—Changing the state’s foreclosure law to help homeowners stay in their homes.
—Establishing a municipal energy-loan program to help homeowners make energy efficiency improvements.

Lawmakers were also seeking an agreement on enhancing penalties for operating a car while impaired by alcohol or drugs while a child is a passenger.

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