Paterson: Wrong time for politics, right time for governing

PHOTO: HARRIS/EXAMINER

A furious New York Governor David A. Paterson tonight stepped to the podium and blasted Republican lawmakers for playing politics instead of governing.

Paterson, the former Democratic Minority Leader in the State Senate took to the podium about 30 minutes ago and told reporters that while he didn't know many details he was furious that the legislature chose to take to divisive partisan politics during the final two weeks of the legislative session, which he referred to as, "Not the time for politics. It's the time for governance"

Paterson said that this had nothing to do with him being a Democrat and that if the sides were reversed he'd be just as angry. 

Paterson expressed outrage that "what happened on the Senate floor today was disguised under the cloak of reform and good government" and said that this is the time that the legislature should be focusing on the issues facing the 200,000 "New Yorkers who have lost their jobs" and many others who fear that they might.  He said that this is the time that the Senate should be focusing on issues like education, marriage equality, the state's fiscal crisis or how to reform unemployment insurance, "but once again Albany's dysfunction has reared its ugly head."

The governor said that he would consider extending the legislative session to make sure that important issues were tackled if the Senate continued to stall over who picked on who.

Paterson said that since this issue will likely end up in court, he will recognize Malcom A. Smith as Majority Leader "until such as time as a court rules otherwise."

"I don't care if I'm the only one standing," said the governor.  "But someone has got to stand up and say that this is wrong."

Tonight, at least one person appeared to agree with Paterson.

New York City Council Member Tony Avella, a Democratic mayoral candidate said, "The leaders of the failed attempt to steal the Senate leadership are an embarrassment."