Gov. Paterson had not even given his “hard times in New York” speech last night before the special pleaders were whining up a storm.
“There’s no way on God’s green earth that we can cut our way out of the budget gap,” the spendthrift Working Families Party insisted.
“Cutting government spending is like knocking the economy when it’s down,” said the lefty Fiscal Policy Institute.
And Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver said: “Middle-class families and our working poor must not be forced to bear the brunt of such cuts.”
Then Silver offered the public-employee unions assurances that their rice bowls are safe: “I and my Assembly colleagues believe that this state must not backpedal on the important progress we have made for the hardworking families of this state.”
Just for good measure, Mayor Bloomberg sought to protect Gotham’s rice bowl – arguing against cuts in aid to the city on the grounds that it already contributes more than its fair share.
Clearly, Paterson was on the right track, to cause all that sputtering.
But he’s plainly got an uphill battle.
“Costs are rising steadily,” the gov said. “Revenues are dropping dramatically.”
He called the situation “severe” – noting that the state’s budget gap has soared to more than $6 billion next year, and to a mind-boggling $26 billion over the next three years.
Paterson insisted – quite correctly – that “the time to act is now.”
“I promise you,” he said, “there will be action.”
Trouble is, he laid out plans for precious little of that last night.
Yes, Paterson asked the Legislature to come back to Albany next month to address the “crisis.” And he hinted of more trims at state agencies.
The governor is also expected to spell out more details today.
But he didn’t call on lawmakers to revisit the current budget and start cutting now. On the contrary, he called on them to accelerate work on next year’s plan.
To be frank, Paterson’s deeds simply don’t match his message.
This failure to act decisively – right now – is alarming.
Yes, time remains.
But not much.