Double the Schumer, Triple the Senate Fun?

Trying to inject some levity into the guessing game of will replace Hillary Clinton, Governor David Paterson joked yesterday that Senator Charles Schumer could take on the work of the junior Senator: "He doesn't need another office, he doesn't need any additional staffing, he does the work of two, let Charles do it." Then Paterson introduced Schumer as New Year's "first and second Senator." Schumer demurred, "David, I thought you were my friend... We have enough to do, we do need another senator, please... but I do appreciate the vote of confidence." The pair were actually on hand to discuss a possible "bailout" plan for local school districts, funded by the federal government. According to the Times Union, "If approved as part of President-elect Barack Obama's $750 billion package, New York could get an extra $6.4 billion in local school aid over the next two years."