State lawmakers respond to CBS6Albany.com commenters

CBS 6 took your concerns about Governor David Paterson's failed economic session directly to local state legislators on Wednesday, asking the questions you raised in the comments section at CBS6Albany.com.

BATTERING PATERSON

Katee19 wrote, "We should stop knocking Paterson down, and come to an agreement without quabbling like five year-olds."

Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari (D - Cohoes): "Well, it depends on how you define quabbling. Democracy is debate. Democracy is not a dictatorship. The governor, whom I respect a great deal, cannot just impose his will on the Senate and the Assembly."

Assemblyman Jack McEneny (D - Albany): "It's not that easy. People like one-word answers. They like yes-no. They like it black or white. The problem is, much of legislative business and public business is gray."

BLAMING THE GOP

MCATK26 wrote, "To the Republicans in the legislature, if you are wondering why you will be in the [Senate] minority in January 2009, the answer was shown in [Tuesday's] meeting. You are there to get the people of New York State out of this mess, which basically -- through the years -- has been caused by you."

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco (R - Schenectady): "I don't think [MCATK26] saw the meeting, because the Republicans gave about 16 different ideas to how to solve the problem. [Senate Minority Leader] Malcolm Smith and Assembly Speaker [Sheldon] Silver, their silence was deafening."

"TOTALLY DISGUSTED"

Leppie wrote, "As an enrolled and voting Republican, I am proud of the hard stand our governor is taking -- but totally disgusted with the games and waste being perpetuated by both parties in the NY Legislature."

State Senator Neil Breslin (D - Albany): "I'd agree with [Leppie] on the governor. The governor is, on a daily basis, trying to get everyone to realize we're in 1929-type condition. I would disagree with him blaming the Senate Democrats. The Senate Democrats have come-up with proposals to cut programs that would harm the least number of people. The Senate Republicans came-up with nothing.'"

Assemblyman Tim Gordon (I - Bethlehem): "There's waste in state government, and we have to find that. We have to do things more efficiently. Unfortunately, just cutting programs -- line items -- just slashing entire programs isn't the way to find the waste, necessarily."

Governor Paterson has said he will convene another special session, but only if there's a three-way agreement in advance. Otherwise, the state's current $2 billion deficit will be tacked-on to next year's shortfall, pushing the 2009-10 deficit to an estimated $15 billion. Paterson will release his spending plan on December 16.