PEF says Gov. still hiring costly consultants

The New York State Public Employees Federation says Governor David Paterson has some explaining to do.

PEF has released new research showing while the state has instituted a freeze on hiring state workers, it has left the door to hiring costly consultants wide open.

The group says it's especially troubling because New York State is currently in a financial crisis.

PEF is the state's second largest state employee union; it represens 59,000 professional, scientific and technical employees.