In the case of Patterson, I would judge the amount of accountability in regards to how long the problem has been going on during his watch. I am not familiar…how long has he been there? If he’s new (first term including spitzer’s stint), or has he been there longer.

Oh, he’s neck deep. He was Lt. Gov. before this and a State Legislator for as long as I can remember.

I also don’t have any confidence in his proposed leadership on this matter. Once the Unions start screaming, he’ll fold quicker than a cheap camera.

What NYS needs right now is a governor who can tell the unions to all go to hell before we have another one of these.

Here are just a few examples of how labor is angling to stuff its pockets with taxpayer cash:

* One bill would force nonprofits (hospitals, rec centers, colleges) that use tax-exempt funding for construction projects to pay above-market union-level wages – pushing up costs and and killing jobs.

Worse, it would open the door to union-wage requirements at all projects that get public subsidies – defeating the point of such help, of course, and crimping development across the state.

* Another would make it impossible for state and local governments to trim health benefits for public-sector retirees, even if they face severe budget pressure to do so. Private-sector workers should be so lucky.

* Lawmakers are reviewing several bills following disclosures that their projected costs are based on a union-paid actuary’s low-ball estimates. (The New York Times last week reported that the cost to taxpayers of just 11 of 50 bills analyzed by actuary Jonathan Schwartz is some $500 million more than he said.)

Yet that might not be enough to block the legislation, which would lower retirement ages and boost pension benefits for various categories of public employees – costing taxpayers a fortune. Forever.

* Unless lawmakers act, budget language (and a complicit Department of Labor) will make it nearly impossible for non-union firms to win public-works contracts.

So higher pensions, less years. Makes sense. Crippling economy and asking for more benefits. Sure, Why not.

You know what. Everyone look at Buffalo, NY and what the Unions did to it. Built it and then destroyed it. The same will happen to the whole state if these bills become law.

After accepting a quarter-million in charitable contributions from homebuilder Beezer Homes’ employees and company partners, moving into a free home that cost upwards of $450,000, enjoying an all-expenses-paid trip to Disneyland while the house was being built, and also raking in enough money from the show to cover taxes on the house for 25 years, the Harper family turned around and put their custom-made dream mansion up as collateral for a $450,000 loan that purportedly went to fund the Harpers’ failed construction business.

A free house, taxes paid, all that, and they blew it.

This is why handouts don’t work. If you don’t earn it yourself, you don’t have anything to lose.

On July 30th, 2008 at 12:52 pm, BrianNY said:

It would be absolutely correct to hold the Gov. and the legislature accountable for the issue.

In the case of Patterson, I would judge the amount of accountability in regards to how long the problem has been going on during his watch. I am not familiar…how long has he been there? If he’s new (first term including spitzer’s stint), or has he been there longer.

Shouldn’t we condemn Patterson and the state media for incompetence?

You’re right. Maybe I’m guilty of practicing the soft bigotry of low expectations, but I’m just too floored right now that a liberal democrat in NY is actually suggesting budget cuts over raising taxes to tackle this debacle.

You are correct in holding the Governor and other State officials responsible for obviously delayed action. After all, they are paid to watch, respond and avoid the light at the end of the tunnel.

Why did the state news bureaus not know about this story before now?

Now, Gov. Patterson is being praised for “straight talk?”

Patterson was the NY State Senate Minority Leader from 2003-2007, and Lt. Governor and Governor after that.

Shouldn’t we condemn Patterson and the state media for incompetence?

Don’t worry. Just before I cross the state line, I’ll make sure to turn out all the lights.

Signed,
The Last Person to Leave New York

*out*

2009, ’10 and ’11 Projected NY State Budget Deficits – $26.2 billion combined and growing

Tax receipts from NY State’s 16 largest banks – down $168 million in the last year and dropping

Kudos for the Governor in spelling out this looming disaster and suggesting responsible budget cuts instead of knee-jerk tax (spending) increases.

I predict the same ol’ time honored, liberal NYC tradition: financial industry gets whacked, top source of tax revenue dries up, NYC Council and labor unions demonize NYC Mayor and Governor, fight budget cuts every step of the way, end up with education spending increases in the name of “the children,” first responder city services (police and fire) get cut first, crime skyrockets in “minority” neighborhoods first, police shoot straight A student (drug-dealer) in the back, bodega owner shoots straight A student (shop-lifter) in the back, WW III breaks out, Al Sharpton ends up getting more face time than mayor and governor combined, whites follow the jobs to NJ and move out, property values drop, prostitutes make their daytime appearances again at all cross-town streets adjacent to bridges and tunnels, economy swings back up, financial sector slowly rebuilds, young, white college graduates move in for entry-level jobs and to take advantage of lower rents, City elects a fiscally conservative mayor, Wall Street returns…economy skyrockets…real estate bubbles again…
Repeat process.

I’m skeptical, but willing to give the guy a chance in the face of his speech.

The “big govament” wonks got their wish. They’ve created the welfare state and now they have to support it. Unfortunately, all these schemes use OPM.

B@5t@rd5!