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.