Gov. Paterson: Albany's as bad as Iran and Bosnia
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/11/06/2009-11-06_gov_paterson_albanys_as_bad_as_iran_and_bosnia.html#ixzz0W6BEvR83ALBANY - Gov. Paterson compared the state's do-nothing Capitol to Iran and Bosnia.
Paterson told WOR-AM's "John Gambling Show" on Thursday that Senate Democrats were balking at his request for a rare joint session of the Legislature on Monday so he can outline the state's fiscal mess.
He has set a special session of the Legislature for Tuesday to deal with the budget, same-sex marriage, drunken- driving laws and a state spending cap.
It's unclear if any of the agenda items will be acted upon. Lawmakers are required to heed a governor's call for a special session, but they don't have to do anything.
"I'm getting some pushback about even being allowed to speak before my colleagues [on Monday]," Paterson said incredulously.
"Now if this was Bosnia or in the middle of Tehran, maybe I would understand why this is happening, but this is New York State and the United States of America."
A top Senate aide said the Dems see no reason for the joint session.
"We're not going to just sit there as part of some kind of photo op and campaign ad for the governor," the aide said.
Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook said addressing the "worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is no photo op."
Assembly Democrats say they are prepared to make many of the cuts Paterson wants to close a projected $3.1 billion gap. Senate Democrats oppose the more than $1 billion in health care and midyear school cuts the governor wants.
Topic: Gov. Paterson: Albany's as bad as Iran and Bosnia (Read 465 times)