Gov. David Paterson today called talk of Senate Democrats potentially boycotting his address Monday to a joint session of the Legislature “shameful” and said “I’m even insulted by the delay” in debating whether to come.

This morning, a spokesman for the Senate majority said the conference plans to attend, and aides insisted that it was never [...]

Gov. David Paterson this morning said he doesn’t feel empowered that President Obama was unsuccessful in helping Democrats win governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia, which could dampen the White House’s attempts to have Paterson back away from a run next year.

“I don’t feel empowered by any Democratic losses. I support Democrats and I [...]

The Senate Democratic majority will now attend Gov. David Paterson’s address Monday to a joint session of the Legislature, a spokesman said this morning.

“They still don’t want to, but out of respect for the governor’s office they are going to attend,” said spokesman Austin Shafran.

Shafran said the conference expects all members to attend Monday and [...]

Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Albany County, held a press conference today at the Capitol to announce a bill that would require disclosure of any financial contributions to a legal defense fund for politicians in the wake of a fund set up by Sen. Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, Gannett’s Jon Campbell reports.

The bill calls for disclosure of all [...]

As lawmakers seek to close this year’s $3.2 billion budget gap, Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, is proposing legislation that would toughen laws on tax scofflaws.

Klein estimates that the state could bring in about $400 million if it establishes a tax amnesty program, which would waive penalties if tax evaders pay up. As part of his [...]

In an attempt to build support for his candidacy next year, Gov. David Paterson released two television ads for his 2010 campaign that will begin airing statewide Friday.

The first ad, titled “Some Say,” tries to make the case for how he’s made tough decisions in the state’s fiscal crisis and ends with the title “Governor [...]

Even as Senate Democrats say they won’t return to Albany until they have a budget deal, Gov. David Paterson is ordering them back on Tuesday for a special session.

And, as he’s promised, he’s put out a long list of key priorities of his administration for lawmakers to consider adopting.

He wants them to close the $3.2 [...]

A week after it was revealed that Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli quietly restored pensions to the private attorneys he spent a year investigating, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced today that one of the top targets of their investigations has settled and will no longer receive state pension benefits.

Cuomo said Long Island attorney Lawrence Reich, who had [...]

Senate Democrats are not expected to attend Gov. David Paterson’s planned speech to a joint session of the state Legislature on Monday, saying they will return to Albany when they reach a budget deal.

“The Senate will return to Albany once they have an agreement,” said Selvena Brooks, spokeswoman for Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson, D-Brooklyn.

The [...]

Gov. David Paterson appear to be getting little support from Senate Democrats in his call to address a joint session of the state Legislature on Monday.

While Assembly Democrats plan to attend have issued a proclamation to do so, Senate Democrats haven’t, and it’s unclear whether they will.

Even Paterson admitted as much this morning on the [...]