State Senate won't act on budget cuts

ALBANY - The state's Republican Senate majority has apparently derailed Gov. David Paterson's plans to drastically cut spending in a special session next week by saying it won't act to close a budget gap without a more comprehensive approach.

“Before the Legislature acts, we need to see what the governor is proposing for next year,” Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos said in a written statement. “These important decisions about New York's future cannot be made in a vacuum. ... We must not simply pass costs down to school districts and local governments and force them to raise taxes.”

Although the Senate Republican majority will attend next week's special session called by Paterson, the Republicans appear unlikely to act on his cuts proposed Wednesday.