Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I – Merrick) today called legislation being introduced by Governor Paterson to give him unilateral budget-cutting powers irresponsible due to the fact that the current fiscal crisis is a result of poor planning from the governor this past April. McDonough continued his vow to vote against a deficit reduction plan which cuts school aid to Long Island which would result in higher property taxes and said he will vote against any legislation which gives the governor unchecked power.

“Governor Paterson cannot expect the legislature to pass legislation which gives him ultimate control over the state’s purse strings in order to solve a problem which he created in the first place by passing a $132.8 billion budget,” said Assemblyman McDonough. “My minority colleagues, in both the Assembly and the Senate, and I have presented the governor and both majority leaders with our plan to cut spending without harming school aid, aid to municipalities or Medicaid. In my opinion, the lack of movement in the legislature on a DRP is a symbol of Governor Paterson’s inability to lead this state and members of his own party. For that reason, I am adamantly opposed to giving him any more power, which goes against the separation of duties contained in our state constitution.”

According to the governor’s office, this emergency legislation is only applicable to appropriations in the current fiscal year. The specific payments that will be reduced must be identified no later than December 31, 2009. Additionally, the law would explicitly exclude from reduction payments for debt service and collective bargaining obligations, as well as those for expenditures required under federal law, the state constitution, or the federal constitution.