Breadcrumbs
Home / NY: Senate GOP Wants $1.2 Billion More Cut; Governor Paterson to Cut his pay 10%NY: Senate GOP Wants $1.2 Billion More Cut; Governor Paterson to Cut his pay 10%
Last Updated on Friday, 6 March 2009 10:52 Written by rslcpol Friday, 6 March 2009 10:52
From the Times Union:
State Senate Republicans on Thursday offered up an alternate plan to Gov. David Paterson’s 2009-2010 budget which would cut an additional $1.2 billion from the $4.2 billion the governor would trim.
The plan, which represents the new Senate minority’s debut as a loyal opposition since losing their majority last November, would also abandon scores of new taxes and fee hikes proposed by the governor, including those on digital music downloads, sugared soda and auto rentals.
Meanwhile, Democrat Governor David Paterson, harsh criticism the last few weeks, got a nudge from a cash strapped retiree and decided to cut his own pay 10%.
Faced with criticism that he is aloof from the hardships of New Yorkers who are losing their jobs and trimming their household budgets, the governor has agreed to reduce his $179,000 salary by 10 percent.The suggestion that Mr. Paterson should accept a pay cut surfaced at a town hall meeting Wednesday evening in Niagara Falls, where he was heckled at times and faced pointed accusations of not living by the principle of shared sacrifice that he has promoted. One retired woman on a fixed income asked him why he could not cut the pay of legislators.