According to published reports, Gov. David Paterson plans to take to the airwaves tonight to announce the appointment of a lieutenant governor. The appointment would in theory be able to break the deadlocked state Senate.

Paterson says the gridlock caused by a fight for control of the chamber is holding up critical legislation.

Reports indicate that Paterson has a candidate in mind; however it’s not clear if Paterson has the authority to go through with his appointment.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has previously said that the appointment of a lieutenant governor would be unconstitutional. The position has been vacant since Paterson took over after Eliot Spitzer resigned in 2008; Cuomo said that the appointment should have been made at that time.

The address is scheduled for 5:01 p.m.

Paterson’s moves come as some senators are setting a Thursday deadline for resolving the conflict that began June 8.

Senators from the Democratic conference and the Republican-dominated coalition that mounted a coup are expected to meet on several proposals to end the fight.

Also Wednesday, Paterson is stopping the senators’ pay and expense checks.

Paterson used TV a year ago to warn about New York’s fiscal crisis. It gave him a boost in his poll ratings, which are now at low levels.

Source: AP