Senate gridlock frustrates taxpayers

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Taxpayer frustration over the gridlock in the New York State Senate is boiling over. One outraged group says senators who won't do their jobs, should be replaced.

Jim Ostrowski said, "I think most people want to cut off their salaries."

Ostrowski's Free New York group is joining other frustrated taxpayers who are calling for sweeping reforms in Albany, and who are fed up with the leadership battle in the State Senate that has paralyzed the legislature.

Ostrowski said, "If these people aren't going to show up for a quorum, just leave. Just resign, and have the governor call for a special election. Let's get some new people in there."

Democrats again did now show up when lawmakers were called into session. There is still no agreement on how to share the leadership power, and without 32 votes no legislation can be passed.

Even former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer publicly expressed concern over the crisis.

Spitzer said, "Obviously the people of this state are hoping for leadership and resolution, and there are issues that need to be addressed and we hope will be, and so let's wait and hope that there's leadership."

If no deal is struck, local governments could be out millions of dollars for state funded projects and sales tax extensions. But those who have been fighting for major state government reforms are hoping the shake-up will lead to a completely new way of doing things.

Ostrowski said, "You can't fix a bad system. You've got to scrap it. Git rid of authorities. They corrupt everything. Get rid of corporate welfare."

Ostrowski delivered a list of ten major changes to Senator Antoine Thompson's office in the Mahoney Building. The changes would lead to "a drastic reduction in the size of state and local governments in New York.

So there is still no agreement on who's in charge in the State Senate. The split got even uglier Thursday when dissident Democrat Pedro Espada accused the Democratic

Senate Campaign Committee of trying to discredit him. He says it is racially motivated, an accusation denied by the committee.