Jan 7, 2009 7:08 pm US/Eastern
Gov.: Car Batteries Key To N.Y.'s Financial Future
Paterson Says State That Develops Rechargeable Hybrid Electric Batteries For Cars Will See A Financial Windfall
Also Calls For Cap On Property Taxes In State Of State Address
ALBANY (CBS) ―
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New York Gov. David Paterson (File)
AP
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New York Gov. David Paterson (File)
AP
Governor David Paterson may be faced with the worst fiscal situation since the Great Depression, but on Wednesday he came up with sweeping plans to revitalize the economy.
CBS 2 HD has all the details from the governor's state of the state speech.
"Right now our finances are grim," Paterson said. "The state of our state in perilous."
But Paterson said he has a plan to literally jump-start the economy. He wants to create a research consortium to develop a rechargeable hybrid electrical battery for cars.
"The state that positions itself in this market, in this area, will revitalize its economy for years to come," Paterson said.
The battery, Paterson said, will help the U.S. auto industry create cars that can be driven longer distances for less money.
"So the three heads of the auto industry who finally figured out not to go to Washington in their Lear jets may have gone to the wrong place because the roads to economic recovery are I-88, I-90 and the Northway right here in New York State," Paterson said.
The governor also said he would:
* Earmark $350 million for college tuition loans.
* Loosen the state's tough drug laws.
* Wage a war on childhood obesity, ban transfats in restaurants
* Ban junk foods in schools
* Require chain restaurants to post calorie counts. Right now these laws exist only in New York City.
" As parents, I don't think we realize that the next generation is not forecast to live as long as we do," Paterson said.
In addition, homeowners will surely like this proposal.
" Property taxes are too high. We should cap them," Paterson said.
Senate Republicans jumped on that idea.
"2009 local property tax bills are in homeowners' mail boxes now and they are still going up," Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos said. "I urge the Assembly to act on the property tax cap this year.
Democrats liked what they head from the governor.
"Given the event of 2008 you can't help but be impressed by the leadership of the governor faced in this economic calamity, unparalleled in our lifetime," Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said.
The governor also wants to start greening the state, energy-wise, starting with schools and hospitals.
He said he wants 45 percent of the state's power to be met with clean, renewable energy by 2015.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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