Waiting For Action At the Capitol
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- November
- 30
The state Legislature was waiting this afternoon for the conclusion of a meeting at the governor’s mansion between legislative leaders and Gov. David Paterson to determine whether there will be a budget deal to close the state’s $3.2 billion budget gap.
Lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans, said they were frustrated with the process—the fourth consecutive week they are returning to Albany without a budget bill before them to vote on.
“We have an entire Legislature brought into the Capitol and no leadership, no action, no outcome,” said Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, Monroe County, adding it’s a “bunch of people in suits and ties doing nothing.”
Lawmakers said the sides are only about $250 million apart on a deal, which has been the case for several weeks. Basically, it comes down to Paterson’s continued insistence on cuts in school spending, which the Senate has rejected, senators said.
Apparently, legislative leaders went to Paterson this afternoon with a deal that would close $2.8 billion of the gap, but left out school cuts.
“I’m unhappy with the lack of progress,” said Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Suzi Oppenheimer, D-Mamaroneck, Westchester County. “We are so close, within $250 million out of $3 billion. At this point, the sides are digging their heels in, and that’s not the way I operate. I say sit down and stay in a locked room until you come to a decision.”
Oppenheimer said she’s pushing for an agreement that spares schools mid-year education cuts, but schools would have to brace for major cuts in the 2010-11 fiscal year, which starts April 1.
Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, D-Mount Vernon, said that negotiations are better when lawmakers are in town, but she also ruled out education cuts.
“These are negotiations that can’t happen if we’re not here,” she said.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Carl Kruger, D-Brooklyn, said he recognizes that the Legislature should be in Albany addressing the state’s fiscal problems, but he said every day of session costs taxpayers about $100,000.
“To me that’s a teacher and a half, to me that’s a cop, that’s a fireman,” he said.
Assemblyman George Latimer, D-Rye, said he would rather see lawmakers pass the pieces of the deficit-reduction plan that they agree on, then negotiate on where there is disagreement.
“Why aren’t we just focusing completely on those negotiations, and then bring us back in when we have a deal, because absent that, you’re spending a lot of money for us to be here,” Latimer said.
Others tried to remain optimistic.
“I’m hopeful that I came here for a reason,” said Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton. “It is a waste of time, unfortunately, if nothing happens over the course of the next several days. I believe something can happen, I don’t believe it’s that far apart.”
Added Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, Rockland County: “It’s a difficult time and obviously a very challenging budget that we have to face. We’re making every effort to work with the governor and the Senate and hopefully we’re on the right track.”
This entry was posted
on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 3:59 pm by Joseph Spector.
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Here’s the TRUTH. Paterson doesn’t want a deal. He wants to bash the Legislature in order to boost his sagging poll #s. He was part and parcel of the spend-spend-spend philosophy and now he acts like only he gets it. Well, Guv, we’re not going to balance YOUR impossible re-eelction shot on the backs of mid-year cuts to schools, which will put our kids in a mess. You wanta to cut your bloated staff & executive crew, go right ahead.
On this one, as unpopular as they have been portayed, the Senate Reps and Dems are RIGHT, and the Guv is wrong.