ALBANY, N.Y. – Gov. David Paterson says he’s disturbed by legislators seeking to spread New York’s share of the federal stimulus package statewide in a way they consider fair – including in their districts. The Democrat says they don’t understand the serious crisis facing the state.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers, however, say Paterson can’t use the excuse of speedy spending required by the Obama administration to avoid careful consideration by Assembly and Senate members.
Paterson warns that the Obama administration won’t allow pork-barrel projects and New York will lose funding if projects don’t meet the strict federal criteria and deadlines.
New York is getting more than $24 billion over two years from the federal economic stimulus act signed into law last week.