Jul 6, 2009 2:09 pm US/Eastern
Paterson Wants To Freeze NY Senators' Paychecks
Reporting
Jay Dow
ALBANY (CBS) ―
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Gov. David Paterson continues to try and put his foot down to get the dueling senators back to business. (File)
CBS
The Albany circus, otherwise known as the New York State Senate, was back in the spotlight Monday following an unproductive weekend. Gov. David Paterson continues to try and put his foot down to get the dueling senators back to business.
Paterson's administration was headed to court to seek approval to halting the politicians' directly-deposited paychecks, all in an effort to trigger some kind of progress in the debilitating stalemate.
The governor spoke about his decision on WCBS 880 Radio Monday.
"We feel that the senators should not and legally will not be paid," he said. "The idea is that we are trying to shore all opportunities to get the senators to recognize that their responsibility is not to their politics or who's in charge, or their personal interest, it's to the public. Now New Yorkers are starting to suffer," Paterson said.
The senators, well aware of how their inaction has negatively impacted the state and damaged their image, started to play nice.
"Bottom line is we want to restore the public's confidence," Democratic Sen. Malcolm Smith said.
"What's very different is exactly what you're seeing, is that we are together and focused on a resolution. We're no longer apart throwing shots at each other from one side of the aisle to the other," added Democratic Sen. Pedro Espada, who joined forces with Republicans to form a coalition government and become the new President pro tem of the Senate.
The restoration of public's confidence however, not to mention a clear leadership structure within the Senate, may be a long way off.
Paterson sought to clear up any confusion that only out of necessity would he deal directly with the renegade Espada.
"So I guess that got misconstrued. My point is, when they send their leaders in the room, I can't pick who they are. I can only try to negotiate with them," the governor said.
Even if Senate Democrats and Republicans were starting to warm up to each other, that says nothing about their willingness or ability to settle the ongoing leadership dispute.
Until that happens, the Senate remains locked in a 31-31 deadlock.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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