There was little expectation today that lawmakers would accomplish much upon returning to Albany after being called back by Gov. David Paterson. Legislators are returning to the Capitol to take up a host of measures being put forth by Paterson that have little, if any, support among the leadership in… Read More →
Gov. David Paterson’s office released a list this afternoon of all the vetoes—an estimated 6,709—from the state budget. The cuts include $600 million in education aid and an estimated $180 million to $190 million in re-appropriated member items, commonly known as pork. Additional spending adding by the Legislature in a… Read More →
Gov. David Paterson might be nursing a severe writer’s cramp this weekend. Spokesman Morgan Hook said this afternoon that Paterson is done signing more than 6,900 vetoes. Paterson began a marathon session on Thursday to complete the process of striking hundreds of millions of dollars from the $135.7 billion budget… Read More →
Sen. John Sampson, D-Brooklyn, and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli don’t appear to be on the same page. DiNapoli says the Legislature still must complete the budget, which was due on April 1. Despite passing a series of spending bills earlier this week, lawmakers still have not approved revenue measures which include… Read More →
Gov. David Paterson dug into a big stack of bills to veto today. He is issuing more than 6,900 line-item vetoes which will eventually strike about $700 million in spending, including aid for education and the expansion of the Tuition Assistance Program. Paterson is also vetoing $193 million in member… Read More →
They may not have a lot in common, but Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino has the back of Gov. David Paterson when it comes to his 6,900 or so vetoes of new spending and legislative pork. Paterson struck out $419 million in school aid and plans to veto an additional… Read More →
Sen. Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, said Democrats have failed to answer a basic question: How much spending is in the state budget? “I think it would take a cross between a wizard and an alchemist to determine where we stand now with the budget,” he said. Senate Democratic officials have estimated… Read More →
The Senate Democrats aren’t very happy with Gov. David Paterson’s veto of $419 million in school aid and $193 million in pork-barrel projects. So, in a fit of retaliation, the Democratic leadership is refusing to draft any bills submitted by Paterson’s office—known as program bills—and has tabled his judiciary nominations…. Read More →
GOP lawmakers in the Senate are not pleased that the STAR program—designed to provide property-tax relief for homeowners in the form of a rebate check—has been cut in the state Legislature’s budget. The exemptions would end for those with homes valued at more than $2 million. Gov. David Paterson supported… Read More →
The state Legislature is forging ahead despite Gov. David Paterson’s Monday night veto of more than $400 million in restored education aid, and continued vetoes to member items and other new spending approved by lawmakers the same day. The bill on today’s active list would pay lawmakers all of their back… Read More →