Governor David Paterson's budget proposal that includes a big cut to education funding and a variety of taxes and fees gets worked over. The Daily News, which called it a "slash-and-burn budget," points out, "The proposal, which needs legislative approval, did not include broad-based income tax increases, but relied on smaller ones"—specifically 137—"to raise $4.1 billion from cash-strapped New Yorkers." The head of the State Conservative Party, Michael Long, said of things like reinstating the sales tax on clothing under $110 and taxing spirits, wine and regular soda, "You're sending notice to the people of New York that we really don't want you here. The governor proposed flat spending, but why not actually cut the budget before raising taxes and fees?" more ›

A spokeswoman for Governor Paterson revealed that the governor only yesterday learned of the high price tag antique rugs bought for the Executive Mansion over the summer. His administration also denied all requests from the press to see the rug, that now has been revealed to be one of five purchased--for a total of just under $38,000. Assemblyman James Tedisco has already called on the governor to return the expensive carpeting. But once again the Office of General Services was defending the purchase saying, "We have to keep that mansion in the kind of condition it's in because it's a treasure to the public." And the general manager at Stark Carpeting, where the first rug was discovered to have been bought for over $20,000 defended the governor for actually being a spendthrift by not purchasing a $150,000 carpet, "They could have had the Bentley instead of the Ford." more ›

With a state deficit that could reach 15 billion by the end of next year, what's another $20,000 spent on a fancy carpet for the state house? That's how much was shelled out by Governor Paterson for the antique Turkish rug purchased from Spitzer/Paterson campaign donors Stark Carpet located on 3rd Avenue here in Manhattan. With the governor's almost singular issue over the last few months being the state's budget crisis, the purchase has naturally raised some eyebrows. But Brad Maione, a spokesman for the Office of General Services defended it saying, "(The governor's mansion) serves as a public space that in many ways is a museum open to thousands of visitors and school children each year." The Times-Union notes however that unless there's a public event, most days it remains closed to the public. more ›

There's a new Siena poll (PDF) that covers NY State's budget gap: "When given a choice of five areas for the state to cut, 23 percent chose aid to local government, 18 percent transportation/infrastructure, seven percent education, six percent health care and the winner was 44 percent for ‘something else,'" which Politicker NY points out "those top-two vote-getters for spending cuts: they run counter to the governor and mayor’s priorities." But hey, the poll's respondents prefer spending cuts to raising taxes, so it's sort of all the same, right? more ›

Yesterday, Governor Paterson had a "secret" meeting with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to discuss the state's severe budget crisis. And apparently it didn't go very well: The NY Times reports that they "failed to reach a resolution...throwing into doubt the chances that an agreement could be reached" before Tuesday's emergency legislative session. Paterson, whose proposed budget cuts would hit Medicaid and schools the hardest, blamed Skelos, stating, "It was clear from the meeting that Majority Leader Skelos has not changed his position," but the Senate GOP said, "We are being called to Albany by the governor to act on specific bills, which he has yet to send us." And even some Democrats may be uneasy, since the plan hits hospitals and schools. more ›

In about two hours, Governor David Paterson will unveil his recommended budget cuts and everything is expected to be hit. Paterson has been giving town hall meetings across the state about the budget crisis (as in a $12.5 billion deficit next year, ballooning to $47 billion by 2012) and said yesterday in Syracuse, "This is not a reality TV show. This is not a game. This is a very serious situation and involves the survival of the people of New York and the quality of their lives... That's as if I asked all of you to go home and cut 25 percent of your spending in your household, after taxes. That would give you a more realistic idea of how drastic these cuts in spending are going to have to be." Besides rumored cuts to health care and schools, a gas tax hike could be considered. more ›