NEW YORK, NY November 10, 2009 —Education advocates gathered outside the governor's office before yesterday's budget address, to protest the governor's plan for mid-year cuts to school aid. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: Around 100 or so members of the Alliance for Quality Education, along with teachers union representatives, chanted outside the heavily guarded doors that lead to the governor's offices. Paterson was attending a state trooper's funeral, but his top education aide Duffy Palmer met with some of the group.

PALMER: If you would like a few individuals that we can go and meet in the office.

REPORTER: So far, though, the governor has not backed down from his proposal to cut $700 million in education aid in the middle of the school year. The protestors say Paterson should instead adopt plans by Senate Democrats to gain cash by refinancing the tobacco bonds and drawing on the state's rainy day fund. In Albany, I'm Karen DeWitt.