After the brief meeting of the Assembly earlier today, Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I – Merrick) released the following statement:

“Today’s session is just another example of Governor Paterson’s inability to lead this state and control the legislative leaders of his own political party. Members of the Assembly and Senate were called back to Albany by the governor in order to pass his aggressive agenda without having a proper plan in place to address these issues in the bipartisan manner necessary to ensure passage through both chambers of the legislature. This is the second time in the past year that the governor has called the legislature back into session to address a budget deficit of his with no agreed upon plan and thus no results to speak of. As both a taxpayer and an Assemblyman, I am frustrated with today’s inaction by the New York City legislative leaders who run this state.

“Property taxes, state debt and growing deficits will continue to be a problem until those on the other side of the political aisle act like adults and accept the responsibilities which were bestowed upon them by the voters of this state. The Assembly Minority Conference has put forth a plan which would total the sum the governor says needs to be cut without impacting aid to school districts or health care quality. Unfortunately, our ideas have been met with silence from the governor and his fellow majority members.

“Today, the only real losers are the people of New York who expect so much more from their elected officials.”