By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – Governor David Paterson delivered a rare midyear address to a joint session of the State Senate and Assembly Monday. He's trying to drum up support for his controversial spending cuts to education and health care to help close a three-point-two billion dollar deficit.
Governor Paterson touched on many familiar themes in speech. He said the state can no longer live beyond its means. And he said the answer is not taxing our way out of the crisis. Paterson did say he's prepared to take the heat for such cuts.
"I will mortgage my political career on this plan, but I will not mortgage the fate of the state of New York," Paterson said. "We cannot borrow or tax our way out of this situation."
But many lawmakers are skeptical of the politically unpopular governor. They agree cuts are needed. But they don't plan to rubber stamp Paterson's proposals. Negotiations continue.
State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, a Buffalo Democrat, says he agrees with the Governor that this deficit should be closed without raising taxes or resorting to gimmicks. Hoyt says he's prepared to stay in Albany as long as it takes to resolve the deficit problem.
Paterson also pressed for approval of a same-sex marriage bill during the special session.
"It is an issue that in many ways speaks to the very foundation of our democracy," Paterson said of gay marriage. "I would like it addressed as immediately as possible, because justice delayed is justice denied. I am asking the members of the New York state Senate on both sides of the aisles to take up and pass the marriage equality legislation this week."