Politics on the Hudson

Legislative leaders today were critical of Gov. David Paterson’s decision to delay funding for construction projects because of a late state budget, saying Paterson should include the money in the upcoming emergency appropriation bill.

Contractors across the state have, or are planning to, shut down projects because Paterson is withholding aid for the work, potentially impacting 500 projects totaling $5 billion in contracts.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan said he expected to see the extender bill by Paterson “probably Monday,” and said he would prefer it include money for road and bridge construction.

“I think we’re in the construction season. It’s a season that if we’re going to get things done, infrastructure done, we should at least have some idea of where we’re ultimately going to wind up with that,” Silver told reporters after meeting with Paterson this morning.

“I think both in terms of jobs and in terms of fixing infrastructure, it’s important to do.”

Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson, D-Brooklyn, followed up with a statement, also calling on Paterson to release the money.

“Nothing is more important than creating and protecting jobs,” Sampson said. “Therefore, I urge the governor to rethink his decision to withhold construction funds and include in the next appropriation bill sufficient capital spending for construction projects which support thousands of workers and their families.”

But Paterson held firm this afternoon, telling reporters that the state simply doesn’t have the money to make the payments—not unlike his decision to delay tax refunds, aid for schools and raises for state workers.

“I don’t know how many times I have to say that we’re out of money before people understand that they are going to have to make some sacrifices in this period of time,” Paterson said.

But the Democratic governor said that construction crews shouldn’t stop working, saying they will get paid—eventually.

“I think it would easier for them to continue working because they will eventually get paid, we just don’t have the money to pay them right now,” Paterson said.

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