EdVANTAGE Blog

The Albany Times Union reports on discussions over how to eliminate the deficit in the state’s current year budget.  The gap is estimated at between $2.1 billion and $3 billion.  The TU described the activity as “political football.”

Ping pong seems a more apt analogy.

As authorized by law, the Governor is unilaterally implementing $500 million in cuts to state agencies for supplies, equipment, travel and contractual services (see my Wednesday post, “Update on state budget woes”).

His Budget Division asked has asked legislative counterparts to share plans to close the remaining gap, but Legislative Leaders have responded by calling on the Governor to “go first.”

MoreYesterday, the Governor’s Budget Director, Robert Megna, wrote to his four legislative counterparts asking that they submit proposals to close the deficit.  He asked the fiscal committee staff directors for Senate and Assembly Democrats and Republicans to be prepared to present their proposals at an October 14 meeting — next Wednesday.

The Times Union reported,

…Paterson’s request was met with noncommittal responses from legislative leaders, who essentially threw the task back to the governor in a series of statements that boiled down to “You first.”

Senate Finance Committee Chair Carl Kruger spoke on behalf of the majority, saying that he had asked pressed the governor’s office for “structural changes in the budget process” and “accurate data.”  “In the coming weeks, this information and the governor’s own budget-cutting proposals will help us ensure the development of a fiscally prudent deficit reduction proposal,” Kruger said in a statement.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver sent a memo to his members, saying that he will act once the Legislature receives a deficit reduction package from the governor. “As soon as we receive the deficit reduction package, I have asked (Ways and Means Committee Chairman) Denny Farrell to call immediate Ways and Means hearings,” Silver wrote, “and I will be holding regional conferences so we can effectively respond to the governor and take legislative action.”

The paper also noted,

Senate Democrats have indicated they do not have the 32 votes needed to pass budget cuts. According to sources within the conference, several marginal members have said they have already cast too many “bad votes” this year. Beyond this internal strife, Senate Democrats also face the prospect of losing one of their 32 votes before a budget deal is in place: Sen. Hiram Monserrate of Queens is on trial after being charged with slashing his girlfriend with a broken glass. Monserrate will be removed from the Senate if he is convicted of a felony in the case.