I think Silver is mentally unstable, either that or he is in a huge state of denial. I have gone through this over and over with the budget and the economic meltdown. We are in dire straits and have been for years due to the inaction of him and his Democrat controlled house.

We are not simply 2 billion in the hole, we are closer to 10 Billion and that is just this years budget. Next year, without looking at the increase due to the stock market, we are looking at 25 Billion plus… Someone needs to slap some sense in to this guy.

Silver says Albany may not have to cut so much; The Buffalo News

ALBANY — The State Legislature’s top Democrat believes far fewer dollars have to be cut from the 2008 budget than the $2 billion Gov. David A. Paterson is seeking from lawmakers when they return next month for an emergency session.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he believes the Legislature has to address about $1.2 billion in spending. Whether that comes from cuts or some combination of other actions is uncertain at this point, he said Tuesday.

“I believe at this point we’re probably looking at about a $1.2 billion hole,” Silver said.

“The governor is saying two [billion dollars]. I obviously respect the governor,” Silver said, noting that there is still nearly six months left in the fiscal year.

The governor’s budget office last week said the state budget is facing a $1.2 billion deficit in the current year’s budget that began in April.

Shortly after, however, Paterson said he believes the nation’s economic problems will blow another $800 million in red ink to the $1.2 billion estimate from his own budget aides. New York is particularly sensitive to the economic downturn because of its heavy reliance on revenues from Wall Street activity.

In a meeting with Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos last Friday, Paterson said he wanted lawmakers back on Nov, 18 to cut $2 billion. He sought to make a case that it would be far less painful to make the cuts now than later in the fiscal year, which ends March 31.