Albany Watch

  Gov. David Paterson took the unusual step today of telling a crowd something other than it wanted to hear.

The governor made an unscheduled appearance at a rally outside the Capitol of scores of truckers angry at high gas prices who want the state to suspend the 35-cent-a-gallon state tax on gasoline through Labor Day. Paterson opposes that idea.

“I wanted to come out here and let you know that we respect your point of view. We just don’t agree with it,’’ Paterson told the truckers.

He said he fears that the oil companies would not lower prices if the taxes came off, instead making an even bigger profit.

“This is, in many respects, a solution that isn’t getting at the problem,’’ he said, suggesting instead that they picket oil-company headquarters.

He thanked them for coming, said he’d be glad to talk to their leaders any time – and got a cheer as he went back into the Capitol.