Results tagged “specialsession”

While addressing the special session of the State Legislature, Governor David Paterson made it clear that the state's budget problems were real—and that the lawmakers had to deal with it. Paterson, who has proposed $3 billion in cuts to, mostly, education and Medicaid, said, "I will mortgage my political career on this plan. We stand on the brink of a financial challenge of unprecedented magnitude in the history of this state. This is a historic moment. We’re going to have to make historic decisions." He also added, "Unless immediate action is taken, we are going to have challenges to our state financials and cash flow in 4½ weeks. Frankly, we're running out of money. Right now we stand on the brink of a financial challenge of unprecedented magnitude in the history of the state. That's not opinion, that's not exaggeration -- that's fact."

Governor Paterson on how the State Senate doesn't want to head to Albany for a special session to deal with issues like the budget and gay marriage: "I'm getting some push back about even being allowed to speak before my colleagues. Now if this was Bosnia or in the middle of Tehran, maybe I would understand why this is happening, but this is New York State and the United States of America." This is how the Daily News explains it, "Senate Democrats don't want to return to Albany if there is no budget deal. And if there is a deal, there is no reason for Paterson to address lawmakers, the aide said." Jeez, can they do their jobs already and figure out the budget?

Gov. Paterson has called for the Legislature to return to Albany on Nov. 10 to deal with the state's woeful budget situation. And he means business, saying yesterday, "They'll come back and we'll stay there until we get it done." When the Daily News asked Paterson's spokeswoman if he'd resort to calling weekend and holiday sessions a la during the coup, she said: "The governor expects the Legislature to return to Albany for a special session to address the current year deficit." No word on whether or not he set the Nov. 10 date in case of a game 7.

With his proposed $3 billion budget and other issues to contend with, Governor Paterson has called a special session of the State Legislature next month—plus he wants a "leaders meeting" in NYC this Thursday, which seems like it would include State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. among the leaders, since he is the Senate Majority leader.

Governor Paterson called for another special State Senate session today, because the Democrats and Republicans have been stalemated with a 31 votes each, which is one short of a quorum to get work done. But if today's session is anything like yesterday, PolitickerNY explains what we can expect: "Most of the 62 state senators fighting over their chamber's leadership showed up for an extraordinary session this [Saturday] afternoon—as did the nine people whose nominations were the ostensible purpose of the session—but once again, a bi-partisan gaveling in and out lasted just over five minutes." In the meantime, Democrats and Republicans are meeting behind the scenes, ostensibly to work out some sort of a deal to get work done (they haven't done anything except bicker for the past three weeks!); Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) told PolitickerNY, "The positive things, I think is that both sides are meeting. Talking is always good, but so far there hasn't been anything that has been agreed upon."

Late yesterday, after the State Senate "met" for a five-minute session (just the Democrats were present; the Republicans were in court complaining about the Democrats), the Senators signaled they were leaving Albany. Governor Paterson was very, very angry and held a press conference, threatening to "withhold any paychecks or any per diem checks from June 8 forward...If you're not coming to work, you're not getting paid." What a novel idea! He added, "The senators swore to uphold the constitution" and "the constitution empowers the governor to convene a special session. If a senator doesn’t come to a special session, they are in violation of the constitution. That is very clear."

After calling for a special State Senate session starting tomorrow but didn't offer gay marriage legislation on the agenda, now Governor Paterson will ask the Senate to vote on the matter. Paterson also threatened the stalemate-gridlocked Senators, "If the senators do not cooperate with this order, I will convene a special session every day until they do. That includes Saturdays and Sundays. That includes July 4. There will be no excuses." The governor's strong words heartened the Daily News' Mike Lupica, though he adds, "As always, it just seems like too little too late for him, after a year when he has come up no bigger and no better than the state senators he is threatening with summer school now." Of course, the Times points out that while Paterson can call the special session, the Senate isn't compelled to actually, you know, vote on it. And the Post's Fred Dicker hears from both sides: "'How does someone who is not a party to a dispute think he can pick mediators and impose them without even checking with the disputants?' asked a top Democrat who has been trying to settle the struggle. A spokesman for Republican Senate leader Dean Skelos said, 'This is total bulls---, and we're not buying it.'"

As rumored, Governor Paterson has ordered a special session of the State Senate on Tuesday. WCBS 2 reports, "Paterson said that according to the law, the governor has no authority over the Senate in session, but that once the session ends, he will inconvenience them by compelling them to enter special session, as the Senate inconvenienced New Yorkers." Senate Democrats reportedly support a special session; it has been two weeks since the Republicans plus two dissident Democrats seized power in a coup, but Hiram Monserrate's decision to rejoin the Democrats has thrown the Senate into a 31-31 tie. Paterson also said, "Over the last couple of weeks, the senator's conduct has been laughable, but what's going around here these days is no joke and I don't find it funny. To the senators, I tell you, you have inconvenienced the lives of all New Yorkers for a couple of weeks and now you will come back to work and do the people's business."