Governor gives Senate another ultimatum

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - In another ultimatum, Governor David Paterson has given the State Senate until Tuesday to resolve their differences.

Senator John Sampson said, "Today, the rubber meets the road."

But there's still the question of who's driving the bus known as the New York State Senate.

Monday, Democratic conference leaders called on the Republican-led coalition to put aside leadership arguments, and vote on non-controversial bills.

Senator Jeffrey Klein said, "We need to stop arguing about who's in charge. What we need to do is do legislation we all can agree upon."

Senate Democrats say critical funding legislation needs to be acted on before the end of business Tuesday.

They say billions of dollars in federal stimulus money are in jeopardy of disappearing.

Senator Antoine Thompson said, "About $2 billion dollars in education money we will lose and stimulus money, and about another billion dollars in housing money that we will lose as well from the federal government."

But deadlines in Albany have been known to be fluid, and some say the urgency being voiced could be more bluster than substance.

New York Post Albany Editor Fred Dicker said, "The sense around is that it is not a critical deadline to have things done by the end of the month by tomorrow, that in fact a lot of it is bluster."

Senator Dale Volker said, "We can get around it. The biggest problem is, it should be done. By the way, we've gone through this before one time when the budget didn't pass until August."

Once again, no official state business was conducted. The Senate factions are deadlocked 31 to 31 in a dispute over which has majority control.

They've been meeting separately since there's been no power sharing agreement reached.

Senator Darrel Aubertine said, "Shame on those who would not come to the table and act on this for the betterment of the people of the State of New York, rather than play politics."

A State Supreme Court justice in Albany is expected to rule on whether the Senate factions must meet as one body to comply with Governor Paterson's call for special sessions.

Two other state judges have declined to rule in the Senate dispute.