Sen. Little frustrated over stalemate

By JOE LoTEMPLIO
Staff Writer

July 01, 2009 03:28 am

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PLATTSBURGH — With the stalemate in the State Senate entering its fourth week, Sen. Betty Little says she is just as frustrated as many New Yorkers.

While Little (R-Queensbury) wants very much to see a resolution to the fight, she cautions against a settlement that could be harmful for the North Country.

"It is frustrating to continue day in and day out without resolution to this," Little said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

But Little said that if Democrats win, it could be bad news for upstate, as most of the power will remain in the hands of New York City senators.

"Let's not forget what it was like with the secret budget process, the hikes for those who sell tobacco products and the fee for collecting sales tax," Little said in reference to the Democratic maneuvers after they took control of the Senate Jan. 1 by winning a slim majority in last November's election.

She also warned that the Democratic majority did nothing to reform the legislative process, as they had promised, and looked as if they would actually give more power to the majority and even less to the minority.

"That wouldn't be good for upstate because everything is New York City-oriented."

Little said she hopes some kind of power-sharing arrangement can be reached as soon as possible, as many important bills were due for renewal by Tuesday.

"We need to try to work something out in the way of operating for both the short and the long term," she said.

Little said she does not think any senators are considering a jump on either side just to end the stalemate and get the session moving again.

"I've heard no talk of that. On our side, that would jeopardize our vote on June 8."

Democrats did, however, count Republican Sen. Frank Padavan present Tuesday when he walked through the Senate chambers to get a cup of coffee in the lounge area.

Democrats used that opportunity to pass a number of bills that were waiting approval, including a sales-tax extender for Franklin County and mortgage-recording and property-transfer taxes for Essex County.

But Gov. David Paterson said the quorum Democrats claimed when Padavan walked through was not legal.

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com