Lawmakers Leave for the Weekend Without Solving Budget Crisis

By Karen DeWitt

Albany, New York – The state legislature spent its fourth day at the Capitol this week, with no agreement so far on how to close the $3.2 billion dollar deficit.

Lawmakers are trying to put up a good front in public, saying they are working hard to resolve the budget deficit, even though six days of special sessions have so far produced no results. Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson says his members understand the importance of acting to close the gap.

"We're working diligently," said Sampson. "We're not going to commit governmental malpractice."

Senator Sampson made his comments at a news conference to announce three way agreement between the Senate, Assembly and Governor on a bill to reform the State's public authorities. But, an hour later, the Senate leader found he did not have enough votes to pass the measure. Two members of the Democrat's slim 32 member majority had gone home early, and Republicans refused to vote for the measure. Session on Thursday was cancelled when it became clear that there would not be enough Democrats to vote on measures without Republican help.

GOP Senate Leader Dean Skelos says he told Democrats that the Republicans would not offer votes to pass bills, unless all of the Democrats showed up for session.

" They have an obligation to have their members here,", said Skelos, who called the Democrats' behavior "not responsible".

Republicans were demanding that Governor Paterson immediately introduce his deficit reduction plan into the Senate for a vote, and said they were willing to make concessions in order for that to happen.

Spokesman for Governor Paterson denied rumors that the governor was in New York City at a fundraiser, insisting that he was hard at work in Albany, solving the budget crisis. Paterson acknowledged earlier that the Senate suffers from an internal power struggle. He says he can't predict when the budget crisis might be settled.

"I wouldn't put a time line on this kind of negotiation," said Paterson.

The governor has said he wants more spending cuts in education and health care than Senate Democrats have so far been willing to agree to. He's rejected some of their other ideas for closing the deficit, like refinancing the state's tobacco bonds.

Paterson continues to maintain that New York will run out of money in mid December, and that payments to schools, local governments, and not- for -profit vendors may have to be delayed. He's also said he may try to take steps on his own, without he legislature, to ease the expected cash crunch.

The lawmakers are due back at the Capitol on Monday, the beginning of Thanksgiving week, to give it another try.