State Senate votes to cut deficit

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - The State Senate voted late Wednesday morning, to cut $2.8 billion from New York's budget deficit.

"Clearly there's $400 Million dollars out there that is the difference between what apparently is the plan that we'll get, and the plan that we needed," said Governor David Paterson.

The cuts include $600 million in reductions to several programs, including health care.

"Unfortunately that's going to trickle down to a lot of programs that people care about, and we've already seen where nursing homes are closing in Buffalo," said State Senator Antoine Thompson, D, Buffalo.

Governor Paterson says he will delay aid to schools and hospitals as needed, to make sure the state has enough cash to pay its bills and preserve its credit rating.

"We have a very serious deficit problem. I'm handling it in the way that I think is best," Paterson said.

Legislators are sparing mid-year education cuts because they say it would raise havoc in local school districts. Aid to education is likely to get hit in next year's budget.

"When we hit education back years and years ago, it created such havoc. That was back in the 90's, because you've got people being laid off at the same time you're passing another budget to lay off more people. It just didn't make sense," said State Senator Dale Volker, R, Depew.

Legislative leaders say their deficit reduction plan avoids cuts that would force layoffs of public workers.