Gov. David Paterson derided the coalition that sued him for withholding education aidpayments today, saying they are failing to realize the severity of the fiscal crisis and making a "desperate attempt" to put their needs above everyone else in the state.
If the administration loses this suit, Paterson said, it will be forced to make all of thescheduled $1.5 billion in school aid payments and $2.5 billion in STAR property tax rebate payments, which would require deeper reductions for local governments and service providers.
"So, in other words, these other groups are going to take a 67 percent delayed payment," Paterson said. "They’re going to wipe these other groups out, and I think now that I’ve pointed this out you may see their lawyers in court on Monday.
"Because what these school districts and unions and otherwise have said: 'We aren’t special interests we’re extra special. We’re supposed to get all the money and everybody else can just divide up the crumbs.'...It's clear to me they don't care about anybody but themselves."
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