New York Senate Majority Will Snub Gov. Paterson

MICHAEL GORMLEY

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The Senate's Democratic majority won't attend Democratic Gov. David Paterson's address to a joint session of the Legislature Monday, when he will try to build support for attacking New York's latest fiscal crisis, according to state officials informed of the decision.

"We're not returning for a photo op" for Paterson, a senior Democratic official said of the governor, who is languishing in the polls as he seeks election in 2010. The official, who is close to the Senate's majority leaders, spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak for the senators.

"A photo op is going to China for a trade mission while ignoring the widening state budget gap," said Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook, referring to the trip led by Democratic senators last month. "Addressing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is no photo op, and hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who have lost their jobs or homes should be insulted by the insinuation."

Paterson called for the joint session and has ordered an extraordinary session Tuesday at the same time many legislators will be in Puerto Rico attending an annual conference of lawmakers. The Somos 2009 Winter Conference at the Intercontinental San Juan Resort & Casino began Thursday and ends Tuesday.