Senate will probably end tonight's special session within minutes without solving budget mess, Sen. John DeFrancisco predicts

Syracuse, NY - The state Legislature is scheduled at 6 p.m. tonight to go into an extroadinary session called by Gov. David Paterson, but it may not last more than a few minutes. That's what happened the last time Paterson called the Legislature into an extraordinary session on June 27. The governor is trying to force the Legislature to...

View full sizeAP Photo/Tim RoskeNew York state Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, said he doubts the budget impasse will end anytime soon.

Syracuse, NY - The state Legislature is scheduled at 6 p.m. tonight to go into an extroadinary session called by Gov. David Paterson, but it may not last more than a few minutes.

That's what happened the last time Paterson called the Legislature into an extraordinary session on June 27.

The governor is trying to force the Legislature to complete work on the 2010-11 state budget, which is nearly four months late.

State Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, said this morning that he expects the Senate's Democratic majority to end the session within minutes without passing revenue bills needed to pay for the budget appropriation bills that have already been approved.

"The governor called the special session. We are required by law to be there. It is a great waste of money if the Senate majority does what I expect, to gavel in and gavel out," DeFrancisco said.

Senate Majority Leader John Sampson, D-Brooklyn, has refused to tell reporters whether he expects 32 Democratic senators to show up for the session. Senate President Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, reportedly will not be there, according to some news accounts.

Democrats hold a 32-29 majority in the Senate, with one vacancy. Thirty-two votes are needed to pass legislation. Republican senators have not been willing to vote for the Democrat's budget bills.

So unless every Democratic senator shows up, it's doubtful there will be much progress on the budget.

Nevertheless, the state will pay legislators up to $171 per day for food and lodging if the Legislature goes into session.

"People are upset, and they should be," DeFrancisco said.

He said the state's fiscal crisis can't be solved unless billions in spending are cut from the budget. Funding for Medicaid programs should be targeted, he said.