New York Gov. David Paterson said yesterday that he will not oppose the Legislature’s budget-deficit proposal even though it falls short of closing a $3.2 billion current year gap.
“I will accept what the Legislature has given me and move forward and make sure that I keep this state out of insolvency,” Paterson said at a press conference.
Lawmakers have balked at some of the education and health care cuts proposed by the governor. On Sunday Paterson said he would move ahead on $1.6 billion of actions he said he could take without legislative approval.
Leaders in the Assembly and Senate said they had reached agreement with each other on cuts and revenue actions that, when combined with the governor’s actions, would close the deficit by $2.9 billion.
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a report last month that the state could face a $1.4 billion cash deficit this month if corrective action is not taken.
