"Stop Making Plans!" That's the stern message from Gov. David Paterson tonight.
Minutes ago David Paterson emerged, sounding angry, from a meeting with legislative leaders.
Apparently a deal isn't close, even though staffers on both sides were reporting progress earlier in the evening.
Paterson said "I don't know why people are walking around here saying we're very close to a deal. I don't know why people think they're leaving here. And I don't know why it is so difficult to understand that we have a fiduciary responsibility to the people of New York."
Paterson warns the State will have serious cash flow problems in December if real spending cuts are not enacted immediately.
Tonight he wouldn't rule out the possibility of furloughs.
Paterson implied that what lawmakers want is to come up with a haphazard plan so they can get out of Albany and go home.
Lawmakers have been told they need to be back again tomorrow after two days of fruitless discussions at the State Capitol.
"There are a lot of unhappy people leaving the building this evening because they're coming back tomorrow," Paterson said. "This is a prelude to what will be continued unhappiness because it reflects the way this entire State will be if we don't handle its finances."
Democratic Senate leaders and some Republicans said there had been progress Tuesday, specifically in finding alternatives to the Governor's plan to cut spending.
Democrats in particular oppose midyear cuts to school aid and health care.
This year's State budget is out of balance by more than $3 billion dollars.
