Paterson has strong words for lawmakers

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - The New York State Senate has until the end of the day to come to an agreement over a power struggle that has brought gridlock to Albany.

Could there be a breakthrough?

There's word out of Albany Monday that lawmakers in the State Senate are discussing a power sharing arrangement that would rotate presidents of the Senate and create two equal floor leaders instead of a single majority leader.

Governor David Paterson said, "What's going on around here these days is no joke, and I don't find it funny."

The potential breakthrough comes after Governor Paterson announced that he would order the chamber into special session.

Paterson said, "That includes Saturdays and Sundays. That includes July 4th. There will be no excuses, and there will be no tolerance for non-compliance to this order."

Meanwhile, former Lieutenant Governor Stan Lundine of Chautauqua County, a Democrat, is one of two statesmen tapped by paterson to help mediate the dispute, if necessary.

Lundine said, "It's a disgusting situation as far as the citizens of New York, and that's the one reason why I agreed to come to Albany, even though I didn't really want to."

New Yorkers aren't happy about the two-week deadlock.

A poll out by the Siena Research Institute shows that more than half of the state's voters think the state is headed in the wrong direction.

Senator Dale Volker said, "I think the state was moving in the wrong direction before this ever happened. I mean the budget was certainly the wrong direction, and all of us Republicans voted against it."

The standoff between Republicans and Democrats has left unresolved a series of bills on issues including pension reform and gay marriage.

Governor Paterson is refusing to delay his order for a special session, as lawmakers try to work out a power sharing deal.

Senators must attend special sessions, but they aren't required to vote. The chamber is split 31 to 31 between Democrats and a Republican-led coalition.