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State Budget May Be The Latest Ever

032910albany.jpg Wait a minute—could breaking a six-year record be why state lawmakers have been dragging their feet on approving a budget? The state budget was due on April 1 and, now, it's freaking August 2. The Post reports, "The latest budget ever was approved on Aug. 11 in 2004, and if an agreement isn't reached on the one remaining budget bill this week, the likelihood is that a dismal new record for tardiness will be set, insiders here agree." Go, Albany dysfunction!

A source told the Post, "It's not looking good for a budget agreement this week," said a source close to the governor and the legislative leaders... They all have a different version of reality, whether it's Paterson, [Senate Democratic leader John] Sampson or [Assembly Speaker Sheldon] Silver." Sigh. And the Daily News says that some of the legislators are trying to blame it all on Governor Paterson, with its source claiming the poor budget progress is part of his "record of incompetence."

However, Paterson's side says they're just trying to distract attention away from the State Senate Democrats' inability to muster up the 32 votes (the Democratic conference does have 32 members) to pass a budget. Paterson spokesman said, "John Sampson stood up at a press conference [in late June] and said the budget is done. So why isn't it done then? It's not the governor's fault."

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  • cleanupnynow

    It is not surprising that the latest state budget in history will occur under this administration.

    David Paterson is simply a JOKE.

    David Paterson proved long ago that he could not govern. “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report” is an eyewitness account of Paterson’s and his crew’s INCOMPETENCE and DYSFUNCTIONAL governing nature while Senate Minority Leader.

    http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_demreportfinal.html

    Paterson’s office was criticized for PATRONAGE, LACK OF LEADERSHIP, INDECISIVENESS and INFIGHTING, set against a backdrop of general CHAOS – in other words the office, a ZOO. Those interviewed in the report indicated that its chief of staff the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey had no management skills, and would get DRUNK with staff, often coming in the office with a HANGOVER, and should be fired.

    Amazingly, for running such a DYSFUNCTIONAL CHAOTIC office, the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey was hand picked by David Paterson to mismanage the Division of Minority & Women Owned Business Development (MWBE) at Empire State Development Corporation.

    Now that’s the Paterson Way - being rewarded for your incompetence.

    David Paterson and all his friends that he has placed in jobs need to be cleaned out…GET HIM AND THEM OUT NOW.

    This UN-ELECTED GOV needs to go now, before more damage is done and more of the wrong people profit from his office.

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