You Paid For It: Special session
ALBANY -- As lawmakers meet in special session today, one day after Governor David Paterson urged them to approve his budget deficit reduction proposal, you may be wondering what this special session at the Capitol is costing you.
We’ve told you before about per diems and travel expenses that state lawmakers receive. They really piled up this summer during the Senate chaos that gripped the State Capitol.
They are also adding up quickly for this week’s two-day stint at the Capitol. Assemblyman Jim Tedisco of Glenville, a Republican, says those per diems and other expenses work out to $71,000 a day, which means $142,000 for the first two days of this week, and counting.
Tedisco says he thinks it’s a huge waste of money, because it’s likely nothing will get done.
Senate President Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, disagrees. He says things will get accomplished during this session, and that it will be money well spent.
