State Budget Dispute Carries Threat of a Shutdown

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York's Republican governor and its Democratic-led Assembly headed Thursday for a showdown over the state budget that, if unresolved, raises the possibility that the government could shut down by May, The New York Times reported.

The state is running out of cash fast; and Gov. George E. Pataki and the leaders of the State Assembly and Senate agree that without a budget in place, or at least a plan to borrow money, the state will quickly be unable to pay its bills.

Both sides say they want to avoid a shutdown. Whether one will happen is far from certain at this point, but Sheldon Silver, the Assembly speaker, and Pataki have drawn a line in the sand; unless they reach a compromise, a shutdown is possible.

"The governor is threatening to close down government to get his way," Silver said.

In a terse statement, the governor said it was time for Silver to stop playing games and address the fiscal situation. "Unfortunately, it's becoming more and more obvious that the speaker wants to shut down the government in order to force a massive tax increase on hard-working New Yorkers," Pataki said. "In the process, he is threatening the orderly function of government. We cannot let that happen.”

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 03/13/03