Paterson Spares No One in Blunt State of the State Speech

By Karen DeWitt

Albany, New York – Governor David Paterson, looking stern as he faced the crowded Assembly chamber, dispensed with the usual pleasantries of back slapping and acknowledgments. He instead launched into a fiery speech that spared no one at the Capitol.

Calling it "the winter of reckoning", Paterson first criticized the legislature, saying their failure to fully resolve the current budget crisis left him to make the hard decisions.

"You have left me and other governors no choice," Paterson said accusingly. "Whether it be by vetoes or delayed spending, I will not write bad checks and we will not mortgage our children's future."

The governor next lit into what he called "special interests" who he said "intimidate, badger, and push when they don't get their way", even when "the cupboard is bare".

"Monied interests, many of them here today as guests, have got to understand that their days of influence in this Capitol are numbered," said Paterson, to tepid applause.

Saying "we must address the chronic abuse of power", Paterson outlined his plan for ethics reform, even taking a swipe at government reform groups, whom he said "hid donors behind walls of sanctimony".

The governor included the media in his litany of criticisms, saying the story of his supposed failure has already been written and the "ending ordained". He offered praise only to the late Percy Sutton, a Harlem political figure who's funeral he attended in the morning, and former Governor George Pataki, who was at the speech.

"It was different", said Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, diplomatically. DiNapoli, who has been working closely with Paterson in recent months to get the word out on New York's dire financial condition, says while the governor did not focus as much on the budget problems as in past speeches, he's been conveying that message on a near daily basis.

"The budget needs to be done in a timely fashion , and it needs to be done in an open and transparent way," said DiNapoli. "All that was lacking last year."

Tim Kremer, with the State School Boards Association, a group that the governor labeled recently as an "extra special interest", says the speech was "disjointed", and made no mention of public education.

"It left me wondering what is the agenda'," Kremer said.

Business interests liked the governor's focus on economic development. Ken Adams, Business Council President says he also liked the call for a state spending cap, but wish he'd heard even more.

"He didn't mention no new taxes, which is the quickest path to economic growth," said Adams.

Democratic legislative leaders hid any annoyance they might have felt with the governor's harsh words. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver pledged to work cooperatively with the governor, but pointed out that Assembly Democrats had thought of many of the governor's ideas first. Silver was asked who he thought the governor might be criticizing in the speech.

"I don't know who he meant," Silver answered.

Senate Leader John Sampson, who has experienced greater public tensions with the governor, said "we don't need to like one another, but we need to respect one another". Senator Sampson also said he'd work with Paterson.

Republican leaders of the legislature, who appeared along with GOP Chairman, Ed Cox, said the governor delivered a "republican message". Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos said perhaps the formerly liberal Democrat Paterson was having a twinge of conscience for his past support of new taxes and increased spending.

"I hope that this has been a conversion," Skelos said.

Paterson, at the end of his speech, offered a parting shot to those who have written him off politically because of chronic low poll numbers and struggles to raise funding.

"Story lines change," Paterson said. "People change".

The governor's presumed rival for the Democratic nomination for governor, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, presided over a packed post speech reception, and was swarmed by well wishers. He told reporters there that his only plans, presently, are to seek re-election as Attorney General. Cuomo said the governor, in his speech, "hit the right themes".