I cannot fathom this height of ignorance from the Senate Democrats. The state is looking at over a 10 Billion deficit and the majority will not attend? What BS is this?
at the same time many legislators will be in Puerto Rico attending an annual conference of lawmakers.
What the hell is this all about? A trade mission to in Puerto Rico? I suppose we are paying for all this too… How many millions will be thrown out the window as they are on a joy ride to another part of the world.
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Senate’s Democratic majority won’t attend Democratic Gov. David Paterson’s address to a joint session of the Legislature Monday, when he will try to build support for attacking New York’s latest fiscal crisis, according to state officials informed of the decision.
“We’re not returning for a photo op” for Paterson, a senior Democratic official said of the governor, who is languishing in the polls as he seeks election in 2010. The official, who is close to the Senate’s majority leaders, spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak for the senators.
“A photo op is going to China for a trade mission while ignoring the widening state budget gap,” said Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook, referring to the trip led by Democratic senators last month. “Addressing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is no photo op, and hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who have lost their jobs or homes should be insulted by the insinuation.”
Paterson called for the joint session and has ordered an extraordinary session Tuesday at the same time many legislators will be in Puerto Rico attending an annual conference of lawmakers. The Somos 2009 Winter Conference at the Intercontinental San Juan Resort & Casino began Thursday and ends Tuesday.
The governor wants lawmakers to act on midyear spending cuts in school aid and health care along with measures to raise revenue without raising taxes to close a $3 billion deficit that he says threatens the state’s ability to pay its bills in December.
The Senate’s Republican minority and the Assembly’s Democratic majority and Republican minority plan to attend the address Monday.
“It’s deplorable and disrespectful to the governor and the office of the governor,” said Assembly Republican leader Brian Kolb. “The people they represent should hold them accountable for that … if the governor wants to bring us all together in one room on this, we should be there.”
via The Associated Press: New York Senate majority will snub Gov. Paterson.
