Governor Urges Tough Love for State Budget

By Rachel Ward

Rochester, NY – Governor David Paterson delivered a defense of his budget-cutting to a meeting of the Business Council of New York State Wednesday night.

He also commissioned business leaders to spread his message that financial conditions in New York - thanks to early action during the financial crisis - are not as bad as they are in other states.

"Twenty six of the states in this country right now have laid off or furloughed workers, 24 of the states have discontinued early childhood education and prekindergarten services. Over 10 states have released prisoners early from their state penitentiaries to save money. These are dire circumstances - New York has not had to undergo any of these.

But Paterson said the lack of catastrophe in New York might be a curse in disguise, arguing that it could be making residents complacent about the state's fiscal situation.

The governor called on Business Council members to lobby for a state spending cap, to prevent the legislature and governor from overspending to cater to special interests, and to keep taxes down. And he asked them to protest spending mandates forced onto counties by Albany, that drive up local property taxes.

Citing an upcoming budget shortfall of somewhere between $2.9 and $3.5 billion, Paterson defended the "tough decisions" that he's had to make during his tenure, saying that no one wants to cut education or social services.