Paterson Wants MTA Plan Vote This Week

Governor Paterson wants the State Legislature to vote on the State Senate's MTA bailout plan tomorrow and have it passed by Wednesday. This in spite of the fact that the Senate plan (which includes a payroll tax, taxi dropoff surcharges and Paterson's addition of reimbursing school districts for the payroll tax with state money) might not have the 32 votes it needs in the Senate—and some skepticism from Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver. Paterson told the NY Times, "What I’m saying is, this is not a plan that I think is going to get a blue ribbon. But what it does is it solves the huge immediate problem of the anxiety and fear that commuters have over the shocking increase in fares and the prospect of widespread service cuts." The Senate plan would include an 8% fare hike, vs. the proposed 25% hike in the doomsday plan. He also said he would, if the plan passed, look for ways to fund the MTA's capital program over the summer, but of course, there's also the additional deficit the MTA faces...