Gov. Paterson has a big chance, in his televised address tonight, to prove that his repeated warnings about the state’s fiscal woes haven’t been just . . . talk.
The governor’s sounded some pretty scary alarms – practically ever since he took office last March.
“People sitting in their homes already know what the pain is,” he said yesterday. “I want to make sure that people in Albany understand as well.”
He insists that state pols “tackle the problem as quickly as possible.”
So maybe tonight he’ll finally say exactly how he intends to bend Albany to the new reality.
Will he declare DEFCON 1?
Here are his choices:
* Prepare the way for deep, comprehensive spending cuts by promising to bring the Legislature back to Albany on a date certain, while outlining specific targets for the ax (see details below).
* Talk tough, but only in generalities.
Paterson implies that New York faces its worst crisis since the ’70s. If so, there’s but one correct choice:
Option No. 1.
New York’s brush with bankruptcy back then was driven by out-of-control entitlement spending, the wholesale diversion of capital funds to operating budgets and unsound borrowing practices.
There have been reforms since then, and Paterson’s likening of the present situation to the ’70s crises is probably a bit overstated.
The underlying problem, however, maintains.
New York provided more government than it could afford 30-plus years ago, and it still provides more government than it can afford – most of it paid for with credit-card-style financing.
Paterson says it has to end.
Fine – so let him lead the way.
By taking on:
* Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver – a bought-and-paid-for servant of the special interests.
* Newbie Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. Paterson will have to convince him to break longtime ties with groups he’ll need if the GOP is to hang on to its edge in Senate seats.
* Even Mayor Mike, who himself talks a good game but who can never seem to find specific targets for spending cuts.
New Yorkers will know tonight that Paterson means business if he insists on:
* Immediate and deep cuts to state health-care programs.
* Significant curbs in school aid.
* Major rollbacks in the state payroll.
* All, with no new taxes, fees or debt.
New Yorkers will know if unions and other groups start yelping about the governor’s “draconian” measures.
Notably, Paterson so far has given in to labor’s every demand almost without hesitation. And he let a blatantly over-stuffed budget pass in April.
Will he take a different tack now?
Or will it be just more scare talk?
Tune in tonight.