[NYAPRS Enews] AP: Paterson Planning to Return Legislators to Albany

[Harvey Rosenthal]

NYAPRS Note: Frustrated with an incomplete NYS budget plan for the
coming year, Governor Paterson is making plans to make good on his
threat to bring lawmakers back to Albany, even in the midst of their
re-election campaigning. 

Of concern to NYAPRS members and friends is the Governor's proposal to
cut 10% of undisbursed funds for the rest of this year to compensate for
what may be Congress' failure to extend extra federal Medicaid dollars
to the states (FMAP). 

 

Paterson Wants Lawmakers Back 

By Michael Gormley Associated Press July 21, 2010

 

ALBANY - Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday made plans to force
campaigning lawmakers to return to Albany in the coming weeks to
complete a state budget that's nearly four months overdue, expressing
frustration with the ongoing stalemate.

The Democratic majorities of the Assembly and Senate had insisted the
governor can't order any more so-called "extraordinary" sessions
focusing on the budget because they made sure they never formally ended
such a session their fellow Democrat called months ago. On Wednesday,
Paterson rescinded those previous sessions, which he said restores his
constitutional right to compel the Legislature into session.

"It is clear to me that this Legislature would rather play parliamentary
games than finish a budget that is 15 weeks late due to their inaction,"
Paterson said.

"This is a silly charade, and the idea that the Legislature has been in
extraordinary session for the last 185 days ... is absurd," Paterson
said. "I will exercise my constitutional authority to bring them all
back to Albany, even if it is an election year."

That would violate a long honored unofficial policy of not interrupting
the campaign season.

Although extraordinary sessions are common after the regular sessions
end in late June, most of them are called after Election Day.

The budget was due April 1. When passed, the 2010-11 fiscal plan will be
one of the latest in Albany's long history of overdue spending plans.

Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran says the Senate and Assembly
leaders are meeting separately because Paterson refuses to negotiate
with them.

"If he changes his position again, we will be happy to meet with him
anywhere, anytime to discuss restorations and closing down the budget,"
Shafran said.

He wouldn't comment on whether the Democratic majority would return on
Paterson's order without agreements.

Before breaking for the July 4 holiday weekend, the Legislature passed
almost all of the $136 billion state budget. But the last piece of the
package, a revenue bill, has yet to be passed in the Senate.

A couple of Democratic senators are holding out for approval of a
Paterson plan to improve public universities that would benefit their
districts.

The Assembly, which has passed all the budget bills, is ready to return
at the governor's request, said majority spokeswoman Sisa Moyo.

Paterson, although a lame duck, has leverage. Until lawmakers agree on a
budget, they will continue to have their pay withheld under a decade-old
law. So far, lawmakers have had more than $27,500 of their annual base
pay of $79,500 withheld since April 1. Although many lawmakers are
lawyers in big firms, most can't rely on outside income and have taken
out low-interest loans.

In addition, lawmakers want to negotiate the restoration of about 6,700
budget items added by the Legislature that Paterson vetoed. They include
$190 million in pork-barrel grants for lawmakers to be sent to health,
social service and civic groups back in their districts.

Paterson said he won't negotiate until legislative leaders come to him
with agreements on his two critical issues: A contingency plan in case
$1 billion in federal Medicaid money doesn't come through, as feared,
and a plan to give more power to the public university systems,
including allowing them to raise tuition without Albany's approval.

 

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