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 Assembly and the Senate Republican minority are expected to attend the speech, but Senate Democrats said they are focused on trying to find agreement on closing the state’s mid-year $3.2 billion budget gap.

Paterson is expected to call a special session Tuesday on the budget after he addresses the Legislature in the Assembly chambers at 3 p.m. Monday.

While lawmakers are required by law to attend a special session if Paterson issues a proclamation, he can’t demand that they attend the speech.

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 John Gambling radio show.

“Up in Albany, I want to address the joint session of the Legislature to try to explain to my colleagues what this problem is on Monday, and I’m getting some pushback about even being allowed to speak before my colleagues,” he said.

“Now if this was Bosnia or in the middle of Tehran, maybe I would understand why this is happening,” he said. “But this is New York state and the United States of America, and what I want to do is to look all of my colleagues in the eye at the same time, Democrat and Republican, upstate and downstate, and of all different ethnicities, and tell them we’ve got to pull together, put aside all these other issues and be strong enough and be resolute enough to make the tough decisions.”

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, said this morning that Senate Democrats recognize the need to close the deficit and want to start that Tuesday. As for Monday’s speech, that’s another story.

“All of us understand the serious nature of our economy and the need to balance last year’s budget. I think we’re all on the same page that we have to go back and find $3 billion in last year’s budget and we plan to do that on Tuesday,” he said.

“If we were going to start the DRP (deficit reduction plan) process on Monday, I’m there,” Klein continued. “But I don’t see the reason why we have to come back and listen to a speech. The time for speeches are over. We need action.”

The state’s Democratic and Republican chairman offered, as expected, different takes on Tuesday’s election results.

State Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs said: “If you’re a Republican this morning, you’re feeling emboldened. If you’re a Democrat this morning, you’re a bit more cautious.”

But Jacobs warned that despite the party’s losses in the suburbs and upstate, Democrats have a year to regroup and refocus their message, particularly on curbing the state’s high property taxes.

“The lesson in all of of this is that where we have Democratic majorities, where we have the ability to deliver for voters, we have to redouble our efforts to focus on the issues, like property taxes in the suburbs,” said Jacobs, who in his home county of Nassau saw Republicans win the Legislature for the first time in a decade and County Executive Thomas Suozzi hanging on to a narrow lead.

Asked he still expects Gov. David Paterson to run for election next year, Jacobs said he does.

“I believe Governor Paterson is going to run and I believe that the Democrats can make the argument that we deserve to win, but that’s what we have to work hard at this year,” he said. “We are in a tough position and the governor has the responsibility to balance the budget and pay the bills in New York state. He doesn’t have the luxury of just complaining about cuts and other things, he actually has to do them.”

As for Republicans, state GOP chairman Ed Cox said that he thinks the races were a turning point in revitalizing the GOP in New York.

These are the kind of “wins, with encouragement from the local party and the state party, you could see people come forward and say I’m ready to run,” Cox said.

Asked if that means Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki, Cox said, “I think it would encourage not only them but other very good candidates to come out for other statewide or local races.”

Cox was also encouraged that Republicans can regroup after losing the 23rd Congressional District race and win next year.

“We will win it with a candidate who has good fiscally conservative views,” Cox said.

With Republicans’ wins in the New York suburbs in local elections yesterday, some Republicans say it could help encourage former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Gov. George Pataki to run for statewide office next year.

Despite the widespread belief before Election Day that neither would run next year, both have not said what they will do—either Giuliani running for governor or U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, or Pataki against Gillibrand.

Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, Niagara County, said both of them would have consider their options after Republicans picked up seats on the local level Tuesday across New York.

“Pataki running for U.S. Senate, Rudy for governor? I think it’s an unbeatable team,” Maziariz said, adding after Tuesday’s elections “”I think it certainly makes the landscape look a whole lot greener and their chances of winning better. I think you have to take a second look at it.”

Former Rep. Guy Molinari, R-Staten Island, spent Saturday campaigning with Giuliani in Staten Island and New Jersey, but he said he doesn’t believe Giuliani has made a decision.

“He runs hot and cold on whether he wants to run again or not,” Molinari said. “I’m trying to convince him that he should run again, that the people really need somebody like him.”

Molinari said he doesn’t believe Tuesday’s results would have much of an impact on Giuliani’s decision.

“Rudy is Rudy,” he said. “Rudy is either going to run or not based on how he feels. He’s not a guy who looks at statistics and worries about the fact that maybe it doesn’t look, maybe he could win, maybe he can’t win.”

   Two Democratic senators plan to announce legislation tomorrow that would make it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage to someone by dropping entire lines of insurance.

   The lawmakers cite the case of Ian Pearl, a 37-year-old with muscular dystrophy, whose around-the-clock nursing care costs more than $1 million a year. Rather than drop the family’s policy, which would be illegal under state law because Pearl needed care, the insurance company canceled the entire class of insurance policies in the state, according to the senators.

   Their bill, named Ian’s Law, would require insurance companies to get permission from the state Insurance Department before canceling a class of insurance policies. It is being sponsored by Sens. Neil Breslin, D-Albany, and Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan.

Democrats suffered some major losses in county races yesterday, with Republicans winning the county executive seat in Westchester, the county Legislature in Dutchess County and Ulster County and hanging onto the majority in the Legislature in Monroe County.

The victories, some groups said, was indicative of a tax revolt in the suburbs.

“The ground shifted in New York State last night,” said Larchmont mayor and New Yorkers for Growth spokeswoman Liz Feld, speaking about the results in Westchester. “Democrats, Republicans, and independents in the highest taxed county in America came together to say ‘enough is enough’.   Every tax-and-spend incumbent in New York State is now on notice.”

Westchester County Executive Andy Spano was crushed by Republican candidate Robert Astorino, 58 percent to 42 percent, despite Democrats holding 2-1 margin over Republicans.

In Nassau County, Democratic Executive Thomas Suozzi it appears was barely able to win re-election, holding just a 237-vote lead, but Republicans won back control of the Legislature for the first time in a decade.

In Dutchess County, Republicans won surprise victories in  six districts, giving them a veto-proof majority.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio put out a message to Republican leaders across the state this morning that the victories bode well for the GOP heading into next year.

“Last night, the people said loudly and clearly with their ballots that enough is enough,” he said.

“I will advance this new movement in New York as we fight for a return to responsible Government. Stand proud today knowing that the people have returned to our side tonight. They are fed up with what the governments in Albany and Washington are doing.”

Here’s some reactions to Democrat Bill Owens, left, surprising victory in the 23rd congressional district, in which he beat the Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman 49 percent to 46 percent.”

“The Democratic Party will not establish a litmus test for our candidates, like the one the Republicans imposed on their candidates in the 23rd,” said state Democratic committee chairman Jay Jacobs. “I’m proud to be a part of a Democratic Party that represents all of the working people of New York.”

From National Republican Campaign Committee chairman Pete Sessions: “The election in New York may provide a momentary victory for Democrats, but the results in two gubernatorial contests (In New Jersey and Virginia) tell us more about what 2010 holds in store for the party in power.

“Despite the unusual circumstances in this race, if we have learned anything from these across-the-board results it is that independent voters are dissatisfied with the direction that Democrats are taking this country and moving away from them at a rapid pace.”

From Chris Van Hollen, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman:

“This election represents a double-blow for National Republicans and their hopes of translating this summer’s ‘tea party’ energy into victories at the ballot box. Not only did eight extreme right-wing groups spend more than $1 million to drive the moderate Republican – and the NRCC’s chosen candidate – out of the race. Now, after losing a seat that was held by Republican for nearly 120 years, they have to deal with an emboldened and well-funded far right-wing that refuses to tolerate moderate Republicans with differing opinions.”

Gov. David Paterson addressed the issue of his free Yankees tickets this morning after he voted in New York City, saying he wants a ruling from the state Commission on Public Integrity.

“I want to ask the state ethics commissioner what the proper ruling is in this area,” Paterson said, according to a transcript provided by his office. “And we’ll abide by it.”

While Paterson said he wants to ask for a ruling, his aides later clarified that the commission did in fact reach out to this office last week to inquire about the free tickets.

The commission is investigating five free tickets that the governor received to attend Game 1 of the World Series. The New York Post reported Monday that Paterson solicited the tickets, and a spokesman gave several versions on how the tickets were obtained.

Paterson said today that the four other tickets—for two staff members, his son and a son’s friend—have been paid for, and that the only issue is whether his ticket should be free. Each ticket cost $425.

The governor’s counsel, Peter Kiernan, sent a letter to the Yankees the day of the game saying Paterson would be attending on official business.

“Everybody is not on official business, only the governor is and that’s why we only sent a letter about the governor,” Paterson said. “The issue is only about me.”

Asked whether he agreed to pay for tickets only after it was reported in the Post, Paterson said “We planned to pay for the tickets all along. We only asked the question about me. Everything else had to be paid for.”

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo was asked this morning about the 23rd District race and about his conversation over the weekend with Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava, who dropped out of the race Saturday and then endorsed Democratic candidate Bill Owens.

Cuomo rejected state GOP chairman Ed Cox’s comments that she was in an “emotional state.”

“When I chatted with her she was very logical and sober and intelligent and reasoned,” he said on Fred Dicker’s radio show. “We had a personal conversation, but I talked to her about the situation, the circumstances. I talked to her about the Democratic candidate.”

Cuomo questioned whether the congressional race in northern New York has the national implications that many are saying.

“I think it’s going to be a close race. It’s an interesting race from New York’s point of view,” he said.
“All these national pundits who want to say, well, this is a national referendum on what President Obama has done, I think that’s a lot of baloney. This is a very particular situation, it’s a particular district, particular part of the state.”

But Cuomo said “I do think one of the factors is an anti-Albany anger that may be playing out. But I don’t believe it’s a referendum on President Obama.”

After the elections, Scozzafava’s role with her own Assembly minority conference is also in question.

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, said this morning that he has spoken with about a dozen of his members in recent days and “obviously they are very disappointed in Dede’s endorsement of the Democratic candidate. Every person to a tee basically said our Washington representative doesn’t need to be another pawn of Nancy Pelosi in terms of what is going on from a national policy, in terms of tax and spend.”

He said, “Dede should have just stayed out of it, and she didn’t and now we’ve got to deal with it.”

Kolb said he would be meeting with Scozzafava, the conference’s minority whip which comes with a $16,500 stipend, after the elections.

“I told Dede that when this is all over we’d sit down and have some very frank and pointed discussions,” Kolb said. “And we’ll see where those discussions take us.”

Senate Democrats have failed to pass an ethics reform package, in part because when it came to the floor of over the summer, Long Island Democratic Sen. Brian Foley wasn’t there because his father passed away.

But Democrats are again pushing their reform package, saying it could thwart future offenses. And they say it would be prevent the type of ethical misconduct that former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno is alleged of. His trial started Monday.

Here’s some of the examples they used this morning from the bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Daniel Squadron, D-Brooklyn.

From their news release: