ALBANY — Gov. Paterson angrily escalated his war on the dysfunctional state Senate yesterday, directing the state treasurer not to pay per diem and travel expenses for the 62 lawmakers.
Paterson also ordered the Senate, paralyzed by a 31-31 tie in the aftermath of a Republican coup attempt, to hold a fourth-in-a-row special session at noon today.
He acted despite claims by Democratic and GOP lawmakers that they would continue to defy the governor at what they call an “illegal” session.
Paterson, who has come under increasingly bitter attacks from normally supportive Democratic senators, said he would go to court against any senator who failed to show up for today’s session, except for health or other legitimate reasons.
“I demand that the Senate stay in special session until an agreement is reached,” said Paterson. “In the meanwhile, I directed the state treasurer not to pay the per diem or travel expenses for the Senate.”
The state treasurer, Aida Brewer, is a Paterson appointee who is responsible for sending out state payroll and expense checks.
Legislative lawyers said Paterson does not have the power to block payments to lawmakers, who are part of a separate branch of government.
Paterson said he had also written state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, asking him to cut off salaries for senators and their staffs because of the ongoing dispute over who is the Senate’s presiding officer, who must authorize all paychecks.
Earlier in the day, however, DiNapoli told a Rochester newspaper that he wouldn’t attempt to withhold pay.
Paterson’s comments came as he was denounced as an incompetent — or worse — by many of his fellow Democrats.
“It’s like the Peter Principle: Paterson has risen to his own level of incompetence, to the point where the man actually looks like he’s talking to the dog at night, getting his advice,” said Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn).
Hotheaded Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn), who is under indictment for attacking a Post photographer, leveled the harshest, and personally insulting, assessment, calling Paterson “a coke-snorting, staff-banging governor.”
Meanwhile, in a rare positive note, Democratic and Republican lawmakers said they were making progress at solving their leadership battle, which may result in an unprecedented power-sharing agreement.