Tired of failed negotiations and inaction on the part of the State Legislature, Governor David A. Paterson is asking the Legislature to take an up and down vote on his deficit reduction plan (DRP) or grant him a one-time executive option proposal to close the budget gap himself.
“If the Legislature is unwilling to make the necessary cuts, I will. If the Legislature is unwilling to do what needs to be done, I will. If the Legislature is unwilling to endure the criticism and the consequences, I will,” Paterson said during a brief address to New Yorkers that was streamed online Tuesday, November 24.
Paterson has called the legislators back to Albany multiple times in the past two months asking them to come to an agreement to plug a $3.2 billion hole in this year’s fiscal budget. Paterson has revealed his own DRP, which includes a $1.3 billion reduction in local assistance programs with $686 million in cuts to education and $471 million in cuts to health care – both of which legislative leaders have balked at repeatedly.
During his address, Paterson said that he understood many legislators were afraid of the political consequences they would face if they approved his cuts, but he said that political issues could not paralyze the future of the state. Paterson’s second piece of legislation asks the Legislature to give him a one-time authority to balance the current budget himself – sparing the legislators of having to vote on cuts.
“I say this to the legislators: this budget must be balanced,” Paterson said. “Please note the fate of so many other states that did not take this action. Cut this deficit with me or I will do it myself. The people of New York have waited too long. I stand willing and responsible to preserve the future of New York’s finances.”
However, many legislators, including members of his own party, have said Paterson’s proposal to make the cuts himself is not likely to happen.
“It’s hard to take them seriously,” said Queens Assemblymember Rory Lancman. “My comment after I heard his suggestion that the Legislature simply delegate its legislative responsibilities to him was ‘what’s next, martial law?’”
Lancman said the Assembly should know by the end of the day what, if anything, it plans to do. He said that the Assembly has been back in Albany three times now prepared to make serious cuts, but he hasn’t seen that commitment from everyone.
“Between the Governor and others, there seems to be a lot more posturing and a lot less negotiating,” Lancman said.
Meanwhile, head of the Senate Democratic Conference John Sampson and Republican Minority Leader Dean Skelos also did not express support for the Governor’s proposal and Sampson said there are still options on the table.
“We can prepare our own bill,” Sampson said. “We can do it with the speaker or we could amend the governor’s bill if we saw to go in that direction.”
Legislators in both houses were heading home on Tuesday while negotiations continued. They are expected back in Albany on Monday, November 30.
