06/10/2010 07:54 PM

Paterson Gives Preview Of Government Shutdown

By: Erin Billups

Video on NY1

Albany lawmakers are promising to keep the state running, even if they're not on the same page as the governor. NY1's Erin Billups filed the following report.
During a string of radio interviews Thursday morning, Governor David Paterson sounded the alarm of what a government shutdown would mean.
"You can just factor it out to an unimaginably chaotic situation which is what we risk and I don’t want us to go there," Paterson told WCBS 880 AM.
Up until Wednesday evening, Republicans in the State Senate have refused to vote on any of the governor’s emergency spending bills. If senate Democrats don’t have all 32 votes, it would mean a shut down of money flowing out of the capitol to vital services.
"If there’s any type of government shutdown it’s because the Democrats have not been able to put a budget together," said Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos.
Republicans submitted $745 million worth of spending cuts in human services and mental health programs to the governor, which they say they will vote for if they’re included, in some degree, in the next round of emergency spending bills. But Skelos says they don’t know whether Paterson plans to implement them.
"All I’ve heard is him being on the radio circuit being hysterical rather than being constructive and try to get a budget done," Skelos said.
However, Democratic leaders of both houses say they won’t let a shutdown happen.
"We’re going to continue to make sure that government operates. My members have a couple of concerns we’re going to work through those concerns," said Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson.
"I think people will remember they’re not here for November only, to get re-elected, or take control, or whatever it is, that they are here to represent their constituents," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Meanwhile, the senate Democrats' push to include property tax relief in the budget is still a stumbling block in budget talks.
"We’re trying to come to a compromise to deal with those issues," Sampson said.
"It’s difficult for us to be funding those relief programs now," Silver said.
Despite all the back and forth, leaders say they’re close to a budget deal and that a final agreement could be reached next week.