Should NY senators receive salaries?

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - After getting nothing done during a prolonged stalemate, New York State senators are taking the weekend off.

Should they get a paycheck when they can't do their jobs? What are you getting for your money?

Senator Dale Volker said, "We're desperately trying to find a way to resolve this."

Desperation measures could include the governor calling a special session of the State Senate next Wednesday, if Republicans and Democrats fail to resolve a two week power struggle. Monday is the end of the regular session.

Senator Volker said, "It is to me the most frustrating thing I've seen in the years I've been in Albany."

Taxpayers are frustrated too. Nothing is getting done in the State Senate. Democrats aren't even showing up after the Republicans staged a coup.

There's a growing public sentiment that none of the Senators should be paid for doing nothing.

Buffalo taxpayer Dave Schank said, "I don't think they should get paid under the circumstances. No work, no pay."

Senator George Maziarz said, "I completely understand that, and you know what? I agree with them, except I was one of three from western New York that did show up."

Republicans have shown up knowing no votes could be taken because of the stand-off. If anyone should give back their pay checks, says Senator Bill Stachowski, it should be the Republicans, "If they wanted to give their checks back I don't blame them, because we've offered them a bi-partisan solution every single day this week, and they've rejected it."

Senator Antoine Thompson said, "They're basically trying to hijack the Senate that they have controlled for the last forty-three years."

Without action in the State Senate, local governments could be out millions of dollars for state funded projects and sales tax extensions.

Assemblyman Sam Hoyt said, "Maybe there's a reason for optimism given the history of gridlock in Albany, because I'm an optimist, though, they'll get it done."

Veteran Republican State Senator Dale Volker told News 4 the coup would not have been launched, if there was any indication that gridlock would have been the result.