NEW YORK, NY December 21, 2007 —The proposal to expand the Javits Convention Center has to be scaled back by 75%. That's according to state economic development officials who blame former Governor Pataki for hiding costs.

The down-state head of the Empire State Development Corporation, Patrick Foye, testified at an Assembly hearing that repairs and renovations at Javits are far more expensive than expected - eating up half of the project's $1.7 billion budget.

Mayor Bloomberg later blasted state lawmakers for blocking his plan to build a stadium and convention center on the west side, saying they blew an opportunity to get a brand-new facility.

Governor Pataki and the former chairman of the ESDC Charles Gargano were not available for comment.