Budget 2009 | The New York Observer

Education Groups Sue Paterson

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:57:29 -0500

ALBANY—As threatened, a coalition of education groups announced on the (cold!) Capitol steps they have sued David Paterson, saying his decision to stall education payments (which were to be sent Tuesday) is unconstitutional.

The suit says that Educational Law requires the governor to make payments on a fixed schedule, that he is violating the separation of powers in the constitution—which gives him and the legislature joint budgetary powers—and that he is violating his obligation...

Paterson: 'People Are Going to Remember Who Stood Up' to This Deficit

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:17:58 -0500

ALBANY—On the radio this morning, David Paterson continued with his more-fiscally-responsible-than-the-legislature theme.

"People have got to get real serious at how serious this financial crisis is," he said on WBEN in Buffalo. He reiterated his belief that a deficit reduction plan passed earlier this week does not go far enough--he acquiesced to the plan--and when asked about what would happen going forward.

"If we maintain ourselves, if we don't have a downgraded credit rating,...

Senate Dems, Teachers Question Paterson's Ability to 'Impound' Funds

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:15:49 -0500

ALBANY—We'll see you in court, governor, if you do delay the payments.

State Senator Eric Schneiderman held a conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon to say that David Paterson stands on legally dubious ground when he says he will unilaterally delay payments to localities and schools. The governor has threatened to do so, saying the deficit reduction bill passed Wednesday didn't go far enough to address the state's cash crunch.

"It's really just him...

Many Dislike Deficit Deal, Few Voted Against It

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:25:36 -0500

ALBANY—Does anyone like this deficit deal? Anyone?

Below are the roll calls from the State Assembly, where a measure to offer amnesty to delinquent taxpayers passed with only two dissenters—Republicans Jim Hayes and Will Barclay. The two other bills comprising the deficit reduction plan passed 106-32, largely, though not completely, along party lines. It happened around dawn; few people were there to watch.

But in the Senate it wasn't close. The tax amnesty passed...

Paterson Bashes Deficit Bill, Which He'll Sign

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:38:46 -0500

ALBANY—David Paterson is back on the radio this morning, attacking state legislators who have enacted a deficit reduction agreement which he said he intends to sign.

"What has disturbed me is that we've had more conversations about the political consequences if we vote for these cuts rather than the consequences for western New York," Paterson said this morning on WHAM. He said legislators "blissfully came to Albany, cut a couple of things, and now...

Deficit Bill Text!

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:53:48 -0500

ALBANY—Here's some early morning reading: a $2.8 billion deficit reduction package.

The Assembly passed two bills containing this these measures last night. Here are links to the main bill, and another.

The highlights, as distilled by the Associated Press:

-$1.6 billion in cuts and temporary cash transfers from agencies to the general fund, already ordered by David Paterson on Sunday. That includes 11 percent cuts to most state agencies, which are supposed to avoid...

Assembly Pulls All-Nighter

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:09:34 -0500

ALBANY—It was midnight in the Capitol, and according to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, the bills on a deficit reduction plan were still "somewhere in the printing process."

"I mean, it's the same base bill that's been drafted and distributed for weeks. What's printing is working on another version of that," Silver said in voice that was lower than usual, swirling a cup of black coffee.

I still haven't gotten a summary of exactly what's...

Rick Lazio Checks In

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:04:04 -0500

ALBANY—Rick Lazio said he doesn't see himself as a third-party candidate for governor.

"I haven't really considered that point, because I don't think I'll ever get there. I'm really confident we'll have the Republican nomination and the Conservative nomination," Lazio told me by phone this afternoon. He's taking all the attention he can get.

I asked whether he would consider the possibility--he today announced the endorsement of Tom Long, the Queens County Conservative Party chairman...

Paterson Gives In, Does Not Agree

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:06:19 -0500

ALBANY—Here's David Paterson's dance: he knows he's not going to do any better than the $2.8 billion deficit reduction package legislators have agreed to, but he has to attack it so he can keep up his message that he's a fiscal hawk, and tamer of the unruly legislature.

"I would not describe it as a deal, Ken. Because a deal means that all parties accept the agreement," Paterson told reporters during a Red Room...

There Is No D.R.P. Bill

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:57:42 -0500

ALBANY—Forget noon--there's no bill codifying the supposed deal to bridge $2.8 billion of deficit.

"We have not seen that bill," Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos just said on WGDJ. He has scheduled a conference of his members at 10:30 to review a bill he was told existed. The session was scheduled for noon.

A Democratic Senate source said the governor has not sent up a bill; it's still an extraordinary session, so David Paterson...

Paterson on the Budget 'Solution'

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:29:27 -0500

ALBANY—Yes, it looks like there's a budget deal.

Legislators will consider a $2.8 billion package today--that contains no cuts to school aid--and David Paterson will try to go further, holding up several payments to local governments.

"I do think if I go beyond what the legislature does, then that will be the solution that will keep us out of the state where we are spending money that we don't have," Paterson said this morning...

Minus School Cuts, a Deal on the Deficit?

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:29:08 -0500

ALBANY—Sources in both the Senate and Assembly say the leaders of those chambers have agreed to pass a deficit-reduction plan of around $2.85 billion that does not contain mid-year school aid cuts but does contain some cuts to healthcare. It will also contain lots of tricks and one-shot actions, some of which David Paterson had already pledged to do unilaterally.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson delivered the message...

Sampson Talks of Urgency, in a Way

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:38:58 -0500

ALBANY—John Sampson, the leader of the Democratic conference in the State Senate, was asked if he felt New York truly faces a cash squeeze in December.

"You know, it's very important that we deal with the economic crisis the way it is. We just have to deal with it, whether it happens in a couple of weeks, next month, we just have to deal with it," Sampson said after a meeting with Assembly Speaker...

Paterson: I'm Just Going to Do This Stuff on My Own

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:08:49 -0500

ALBANY—Still unable to reach agreement with the legislature on how to bridge a roughly $3 billion mid-year budget imbalance, David Paterson announced he is acting unilaterally to do $1.6 billion worth of things to strengthen the state's balance sheet in the middle of this "fiscal emergency."

"I feel that we have to start making the deficit reductions on our own hoping that the legislature will join us," Paterson told reporters on a conference call.

...

Ruben Diaz Sr. Will Return Monday to Vote Against Things

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:37:37 -0500

ALBANY—A good (?) harbinger: State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. says he will be coming to the Capitol for Monday's session.

"They sent me the governor's budget proposal, so we have something to negotiate, so I'll be in Albany. They just delivered it to me at my house. UPS," Diaz told me just now, enjoying some turkey with his wife. "That means that we have something to talk about. So I'll come to Albany to...