It’s about time someone started looking at the legislature as a full time job.. Let’s get them back to work now and get some things done for the taxpayers for once. They have already kissed up to all the unions and screwed the taxpayers of Western New York, now it’s time to get down to business and work to cut the taxes, stop the excessive rate of growth of government, taxes, pork and make this place a place where people want to return and businesses see an opportunity for growth.

Leaders Meet in Albany - FOX23 News

It was the first chance all three of the State’s top leaders were able to get together. They met this afternoon at the Governor’s Mansion to discuss issues not resolved back in June.

“We’ve agreed that we don’t have to wait until January to start addressing them. We see the Legislature as a full time body,” says Governor Paterson.

One hot topic: Energy costs. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has asked the Governor to consider a plan to enhance the Home Energy Assistance Program. With President Bush calling for federal cuts, Paterson says he agrees something must be done at the state level.

“We’re going to look to the Department of Housing and all the different areas that we might be able to withstand what is a proposed cut,” he says.

Another issue discussed at today’s news conference was the property tax cap. The Governor put that proposal on the table back in June. New Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos says he supports it, but there are hold ups in the Assembly. Speaker Sheldon Silver says the concern is over maintaining educational services.

“What guarantees do we have that the children in those school districts will continue to get the resources that are necessary when they graduate to become competitive members of a global society,” asks Silver.