Jul 5, 2009 9:26 pm US/Eastern
Paterson Takes Frustration Of NY Senate On Road
Sunday's Special Session Adjourned After Just 3 Minutes, During Which No Bills Were Discussed
ALBANY (CBS) ―
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It was a wild scene both inside and outside the New York Senate chambers on June 11 as lawmakers were pushed, spit on and accosted by angry protesters.
CBS
Gov. David Paterson said Sunday he'll use a statewide tour this week to turn up the heat on senators who remain gridlocked in a monthlong power struggle.
"I have taken advantage of my travel to speak to New Yorkers directly," Paterson said after the Senate adjourned again following another extraordinary session he called.
He said in separate events over the weekend that New Yorkers' message was clear: "Don't let them off the hook. Make them stay and work."
No bills were debated or passed in Sunday's 3-minute session.
Two Senate factions continue to refuse to recognize each other's leaders so no legislative action was made on critical bills, including some that would extend laws that expired during the standoff.
Paterson, a Democrat, said he doesn't see either side budging in the conflict, which began with a coup June 8 by a Republican-dominated coalition versus the Democratic majority.
Since that meeting, both sides have sought to first work out the mechanics of a power-sharing arrangement, such as reworking the committee system and how to assign bills to a vote.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Paterson called that "avoidance behavior."
"You can't do anything until you settle the leadership," he said.
Paterson said he will continue to act as a mediator if asked, but he again was critical of both sides and said he continues to push to withhold their paychecks and expense checks until they return to a working session.
Paterson, who plans to run for election in 2010, has seen his record-low poll numbers rise when he was sharply critical of the senators, who he said have "ground government to a halt."
The jammed Senate is now evenly split after one of the dissidents defected back to the Democratic conference. Action on critical bills has been stymied for weeks.
Senators' staffs are trying to negotiate a compromise in closed-door talks begun after Paterson met with leaders from both sides on Thursday to start mediating a power-sharing solution. Senators from both sides welcomed the offer to mediate and said they were pleased Paterson had stopped criticizing the Senate for the standoff, which consumed the last two productive weeks of the 2009 regular legislative session.
"Talks are continuing, and our goal remains the same: Come to a workable solution that allows the Senate to get back to passing critical legislation," said Austin Shafran, a spokesman for the Democratic conference.
Mark Hansen, a spokesman for the GOP coalition, said Sunday evening that talks continue, but he had no further comment.
Paterson has not been alone in his criticism of the senate's inaction in Albany. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also voiced his frustrations.
"The current paralysis in Albany is making the New York State government a laughingstock from coast to coast," Bloomberg said.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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