Paterson Reprimands Lawmakers Over Budget Gap
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
New York, NY –
Governor David Paterson is scolding lawmakers for their inability to close New York's $3.2 billion budget gap. In a pre-taped address billed as a message to New Yorkers, the governor says if lawmakers are afraid to approve his cuts to education and health care, they should give him emergency, one-time powers to make the cuts himself. "If the legislature is unwilling to endure the criticism and the consequences, I will. All I ask the legislature for is to take the same action that so many hardworking New Yorkers are taking every day: Make the tough decisions," Paterson said.
The governor says he will send his deficit reduction proposals to lawmakers for an up or down vote. Assembly members have expressed support for many of the governor's cuts. But Republicans and Democrats in the State Senate are opposed to reductions in health care and education spending. Some Senate Democrats say the budget deficit is not the crisis Paterson is making it out to be.
The governor has threatened to keep the legislature in special session through the Thanksgiving holiday.
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