Griffo: Paterson Is Bitter

MASSENA - During a visit to the North Country Friday, state Senator Joseph A. Griffo, R-Rome, accused a "bitter" Governor David A. Paterson of dragging his feet and waffling on the four-months-late state budget in an effort to remain relevant.

But a spokesman for Mr. Paterson faulted Mr. Griffo and the Senate Republicans' "policy of obstruction" without offering viable alternatives as one of the primary obstacles to getting a state spending plan in place.

Mr. Griffo stopped by Massena Friday afternoon on his way to a Republican party fundraiser in Waddington.

He said he continues to be frustrated with the lack of a state budget, which he said is "99 percent done" with only the revenue bill left to be acted on.

But the senator said deliberations have been stymied primarily because of the actions and attitudes of Mr. Paterson, who Mr. Griffo felt was being "combative at a time when he needs to be communicative and cooperative" because the governor regretted agreeing not to run for reelection in November.

"I think there are two issues with the governor right now," Mr. Griffo said. "One of them is relevancy. The other, I think, is that he's bitter. He says he wishes he didn't get out of the race. I think he burned a lot of bridges, so there's nothing waiting for him after this - an ambassadorship or something - because he pissed off the White House.

"The bottom line is, I think he's a bitter guy and he's trying to remain relevant."

Mr. Griffo criticized the governor for refusing to discuss or negotiate major sticking points in budget proposals and for failing to include the GOP or incorporate Republican proposals into the state spending plan.

But Morgan Hook, spokesman for Mr. Paterson, dismissed Mr. Griffo's criticisms as "absurd," instead turning the blame on "Senator Griffo and his Republican colleagues" who were doing everything they could to "deflect blame for their policy of obstruction."

"The only reason the budget is not done is because of the inaction of the Senate in passing a revenue bill," Mr. Hook wrote in an e-mailed statement Friday. "Part of the reason there has been this inaction is because Republicans like Senator Griffo have made it clear that they will vote no on any portion of the budget. And they are doing this for purely political reasons, because they believe that will win back the majority in November."

"[Republicans] have been unwilling to assist the Governor, the Assembly and Senate in making the hard choices to get this state through the current fiscal crisis," the spokesman added. "It's easy to stand up and say 'no' to everything. What is hard - and requires real leadership - is standing up and voting 'yes' for tough cuts, something Senator Griffo would know nothing about."

If Mr. Griffo and the Senate Republicans wanted to pass a budget, Mr. Hook said they could help do so at any time by voting to pass the revenue bill that is currently stalled.

But Mr. Griffo said he has a number of problems with "ridiculous" proposals included in the revenue bill, including new taxes and fees, which he was not willing to vote in favor of because they were irresponsible.

He ridiculed a proposal to tax hedge fund managers who work for firms in New York but live elsewhere, which would have raised an estimated $50 million, noting that even Mr. Paterson has backed off the idea after the state of Connecticut offered to welcome firms targeted in the tax to relocate there.

Also unacceptable in the bill was a proposed tax on hotel bookings made through intermediaries who book rooms for customers online or as part of a tour package, Mr. Griffo said. Companies impacted by the bookings tax would range from travel agents to tour companies to online travel sites like Hotels.com. When combined with an additional proposed tax on "private label" credit cards, such as those issued by department or electronics stores, the new measures would have raised $30 million.

"It's another one of those extra fees and taxes for New York residents - it's unacceptable," Mr. Griffo said.

Mr. Hook countered that, if Mr. Griffo disagreed with those proposals, he should provide a viable alternative to help chip away at the looming $9 billion deficit.

"His objection does not excuse the fact that he voted 'no' for 12 emergency extenders submitted by Governor Paterson, including one that contained cuts in healthcare that his conference supported," Mr. Hook said. "Senator Griffo should take responsibility for his lack of courage in refusing to vote for a tough but responsible budget."

Mr. Griffo contended that voting against the budget extenders was the most responsible thing to do, and rapped Mr. Paterson for a lack of leadership in avoiding the need for budget extenders by looking at viable alternatives to new taxes and fees, such as caps on state spending and a "downsizing" of state government, particularly state authorities.

The senator has proposed creating a commission, similar to those formed to evaluate the need for military bases and hospitals, to evaluate the effectiveness, transparency and ultimate need for expensive state authorities. He said reviewing the size and structure of government would have gone a long way in revealing opportunities to cut state spending and balance the budget.

"I will not support continuing resolutions when you should get the job done," he said. "Our job is to get the job done, meet the deadline and act responsibly. We have provided them with a number of alternatives, but they have not included us. They're more interested in continuing to spend and tax, while we are trying to say this is a bad economy and you can't continue in that direction.

"I don't think the governor has a lot of credibility right now, and I think he has demonstrated a total lack of leadership. And I think his staff's comments ring hollow because of that."