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Paterson: 'The state of our state is perilous'
Governor's address falls on a day of protests and change in Albany

By RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau
Last updated: 4:08 p.m., Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Gov. David Paterson used his State of the State Address on Wednesday to once again impress upon the public the seriousness of New York's fiscal crisis. At the same time, the governor offered a measure of reassurance and introduced a number of new initiatives.
     
"The state of our state is perilous," Paterson said, referring to the damage done to New York's economy by the collapse of Wall Street and the larger national downtown.

But the governor offered hope, conjuring images of historic turning points such as the 1777 Battle of Saratoga and the creation of the Erie Canal and the Empire State Building, to a packed Assembly chamber that included members of the state Legislature as well as former governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo.

This year's address — Paterson's first since ascending to the governorship after Eliot Spitzer's inglorious exit in March — came with unique timing: The speech is usually used to introduce the details of the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. But Paterson released his proposal for the 2009-2010 budget three weeks ago, stealing some of the usual thunder from the State of the State.

Despite grappling with a $15.4 billion budget deficit, which unchecked could exceed $47 billion over four years, Paterson stressed that some key initiatives remained intact. They include a plans to create a plug-in automobile technology research corridor from Albany west through the Mohawk Valley, and ongoing efforts to stem upstate crime, including a planned "crime analysis center" for Albany.

Paterson spoke passionately about the peril of childhood obesity on both individuals and the public health system, and introduced a five-point initiative that will be spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson.

As previously announced, Paterson said he would introduce legislations that would allow uninsured grown children ages 19 to 29 to secure health insurance through their parents' employer-sponsored plans.

Paterson also introduced "45 by 15," a new energy-efficiency plan that would set the year 2015 as the deadline for New York to derive 45 percent of its electricity needs through clean and renewable sources — a push that would also reduce the state's electricity usage by 15 percent.

The governor also proposed the establishment of an upstate research consortium to pursue the manufacture of hybrid electric batteries, which Paterson described as the key component in the creation of a plug-in electric vehicle.

In terms of social policy, Paterson called for the enhancement of school programs that promote tolerance, as well as beefing up volunteerism and help for returning veterans. He renewed his call for additional reform of the Rockefeller drug laws ("I cannot think of a criminal justice strategy that has been more unsuccessful," he said).

Paterson drew a standing ovation from Republicans when he mentioned his support for the property "tax cap" approved by the GOP-controlled Senate last summer; the measure faces opposition in the Democrat-controlled Assembly.

"Maybe I should change parties," Paterson joked in response to the applause...................http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=757519