Governor David Paterson has pardoned an immigrant slated for deportation for having spent time behind bars for crimes he committed as a teenager.

Qing Hong Wu, 29, was officially pardoned on Saturday but he was released from detainment in a New Jersey correctional facility Tuesday night.

Wu, pictured above center, came to the United States when he was five years old.

When he applied to be married to a U.S. citizen several years ago, he disclosed that had been convicted of robbery in 1995 and 1996. He served three years in a reformatory for those crimes.

Wu had earned his GED in the reformatory and went on to get his associate’s degree and had a career in information technology.

According to immigration laws, Wu’s convictions required deportation. As a result, Wu was taken into federal custody, where he remained from November until Tuesday night.

Source: NY1 continue reading this article here

New York Gov. David Paterson is pressing a state spending cap on a reluctant Legislature and pushing back against his lieutenant governor’s reported plan to borrow billions over several years to escape a fiscal crisis.

Paterson says Tuesday that spending is the state’s top problem and it must be curbed or capped before resorting to borrowing. The current deficit is projected at $2 billion.

The state budget due April 1 includes a deficit approaching $9 billion in a $130 billion spending plan.

On Monday, Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch denied a press report that he has developed a multiyear plan to right the state’s finances that includes billions of dollars in borrowing.

Paterson says also negotiations with legislative leaders aren’t being hampered by the two scandals that threaten his job.

Source: AP

New York Gov. David Paterson is vowing to serve out his term, in spite of growing calls for him to resign amid two scandals.

Speaking at a Brooklyn church on Sunday, Paterson said he was determined to run the state through the end of the year.

He told congregants at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brooklyn that he would “not be daunted or distracted by any forces.”

The attorney general’s office is investigating whether the governor, his staff and his state police security detail illegally contacted a woman who had accused one of Paterson’s aides in a domestic violence incident.

Separately, the state’s Public Integrity Commission accused him of lying to investigators about his intention to pay for tickets he got for the 2009 World Series.

Source: AP

Just more than two weeks ago, the overwhelming majority of both the state Senate and Assembly passed an ethics reform bill. Governor David Paterson called it weak then and, on Tuesday, made good on his promise to veto the plan.

“I think we can do better. I think the people of the State of New York have made it clear that they expect more of us,” Paterson said.

Democratic senators, who hold a slim majority, say they will try to override Paterson’s veto.

“We believe that we have what we need to override it. Now that we finally have something, it’s not perfect, it obviously it could have more teeth to it, I’m quite sure we’ll do more, right now we want to get something done,” said Senate President Pro Tem Malcolm Smith.

The governor’s not alone though. Both houses need a two-thirds majority vote to override the veto — something senate Republicans say they will have no part in.

“As of right now I don’t think it’s something that should be overridden. There are many more discussions that could be held to improve the bill, to make it a non political bill,” said Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos.

After the last few scandal-riddled years, proponents of the bill say the veto is a mistake. The bill would force lawmakers to disclose more of their outside income and business dealings and would also require increased disclosure from lobbyists.

“If the veto stands, New Yorkers will be left with a dysfunctional ethics system and it’ll be the governor’s fault,” said NYPIRG Legislative Director Blair Horner.

If the senate doesn’t have the votes to override the veto, it’s likely the bill will die unless the governor pushes the legislature to vote on a tougher bill.

“They all voted for the bill, I’m not sure the rationale for them turning around and saying that they’re not going to vote for it when it comes up for override, but we’ll see,” said State Senator Eric Schniederman.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the state Assembly — who do have enough votes to override the veto — have yet to discuss what they will do.

“We’ll sit down with him, and see if there’s any compromise that can be reached. Maybe override the veto, we’ll see,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Governor Paterson says he has been in talks with the legislature to improve the bill, including strengthening public disclosure rules.

Source: NY1

Governor David Paterson’s financial readiness for an election challenge is reportedly even more troubled than the numbers first appeared.

The Daily News says that of the $3 million Paterson has on hand in his war chest, only $620,000 is available for a potential primary.

It’s reportedly not even enough to buy one-week’s worth of television time across the state.

But Paterson’s campaign manager tells the paper that the figure is misleading. Richard Fife says Paterson raised over a million dollars in January, and has 38 major fundraising events on the way.

The paper says Paterson’s potential opponent, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, has $12 million available to use in a primary fight – out of the $16 million he has on hand.

State law allows for contributions to funds for use in primaries and general elections, and prohibits mixing the two funds.

Source: NY1

New Yorkers would be able to buy wine at supermarkets and snacks at liquor stores under a proposal from Gov. David Paterson.

The new budget proposal would make the change this year, allowing New York to join the 35 states that allow supermarket wine sales. The governor estimates it could bring New York $92 million next year from a store franchise fee.

Many liquor stores, vineyards and other businesses remain unsatisfied with Paterson’s plan, arguing that many smaller stores wouldn’t benefit enough from the perks Paterson added to offset potential harm to their business.

Source: AP

New York Gov. David Paterson released a budget proposal Tuesday that seeks a 5 percent cut in school aid, as well as $1 billion in new taxes and fees.

The $134 billion budget also addresses a $7.4 billion deficit. In addition to a $1.1 billion cut in school aid, Paterson wants $1 billion cut from health care spending, much of which goes to hospitals and nursing homes.

LINK: More Information on the Budget
LIST: New Tax, Fee Proposals in Paterson Budget Plan

He is also proposing another reduction in spending on higher education that would cut $95 million from four-year colleges operated by the State University of New York and $47.7 million from the City University of New York.

He would also allow SUNY and CUNY to set their own regular tuition increases, which could vary by campus, without legislative approval. And public and private college students would see a $75 cut in their Tuition Assistance Program financial aid.

New York City would lose $469 million in school aid, nearly $302 million in local government assistance, $53 million in funding for social services and nearly $4 million for transportation.

“The mistakes of the past – squandering surpluses, papering over deficits, relying on irresponsible fiscal gimmicks to finance unsustainable spending increases – have led us to a financial breaking point,” Paterson said. “There are no more easy answers.”

The Legislature is expected to strongly oppose the measures, in part because lawmakers believe that health cuts will harm community hospital care and that school aid cuts are likely to prompt school boards to raise local property taxes and cut programs.

The Legislature traditionally adds 1 percent to 2 percent to the state budget, but few executive proposals have cut aid to levels proposed by Paterson. He and the lawmakers will try to agree on a budget by the April 1 start of the fiscal year.

Also among Paterson’s proposals is extending the income tax benefits of filing as a married couple to same-sex couples married in states where gay marriage is legal.

New taxes include a $1 increase in the tax on a pack of cigarettes, restoring New York as the state with the highest tax on cigarettes. Paterson said the revenue will be dedicated to health care. It would raise the state tax to $3.75 per pack.

He also wants to offset health care cuts, in part with a new excise tax on soft drinks and soft drink beverage syrups, a cost that could be passed on to consumers. He said revenue would fund health programs that combat obesity, diabetes, cancer and other maladies. Other increases involve civil court fees and a planned tax on natural gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale formation in the Southern Tier and in central New York.

He would also allow the Quick Draw lottery game to be played every hour that a tavern or restaurant is open. The law now restricts the gambling to 13 hours a day.

Paterson’s budget, the second in a historic fiscal crisis, would increase state spending 0.6 of 1 percent, less than the inflation rate of about 2 percent. It further cuts agencies in the executive branch by $1 billion.

Paterson, a Democrat, also proposes to:

– Allow the sale of wine in grocery stores, which advocates say will increase sales and tax revenue.

– Delay the next class of state police recruits, in addition to trimming the force this fiscal year.

– Eliminate $320 million in annual aid to municipalities, much of it for New York City, which could drive up local taxes.

– Cut the state work force by 675 workers, to 195,700 by the end of the year. But that’s expected to be through attrition and a retirement incentive Paterson agreed to with unions to avoid layoffs and preserve their 4 percent raises. Management workers will lose their 4 percent raises for a second year.

– Close the Lyon Mountain minimum security prison in Clinton County and the Butler minimum security prison in Wayne County by January 2011. By April 2011, he would close the Moriah Shock facility in Essex County and the Ogdensburg medium security facility in St. Lawrence County. Those closings, following a decline in prison population, would eliminated 650 jobs.

Source: AP

David Paterson says he has raised $2.2 million in the last six months for his Democratic campaign for governor, with $3 million left on hand for more spending.

Paterson’s campaign says the governor’s financial disclosure filings, due to the Board of Elections Friday, will show he raised $11.5 million. The spending was mostly on two television commercials the campaign has run for weeks.

The campaign for Democrat Andrew Cuomo, the attorney general, didn’t respond to a request for comment and for its financial data.

Republican candidate Rick Lazio plans to make his data available Friday.

In the July reports, Cuomo had $10.1 million to Paterson’s $5.4 million.

Democrat Eliot Spitzer spent more than $40 million to win the 2006 race

Source: AP

Governor David Paterson says he will stick to a self imposed cap on state spending when he releases his budget later this month, and promises to even generate a surplus that can be given back to New Yorkers in the form a property tax credit. The governor also says he could support new taxes on cigarettes, as a way to raise revenues to help close the state’s budget deficit.

Paterson says new taxes will not be a significant part of his budget plan, he instead will concentrate on deep spending cuts. But he says he understands that when the legislature sees his proposed slashes to programs, some new revenue raisers may be necessary.

“The only taxes that would be on the table would be dedicated taxes,” said Paterson, who said any additional cigarette tax revenues would be devoted to health care spending.

Source: Public Broadcasting Read the complete article here

Governor David Paterson will meet with state leaders later this morning to address the $2 billion budget deficit that the governor says is worsening.

Paterson says he wants to fill the budget gap by cutting spending, not by increasing taxes or fees.

The governor yesterday spoke about his encounter Monday with President Barack Obama and said all the speculation surrounding his future is hampering his ability to lead the state.

“There’s a lot of confusion, a lot of innuendo,” he said. “I have had conversations with the White House. I am concerned about the Democratic Party, but I’m also concerned with my ability to govern.”

Paterson did get some good news yesterday, when the state’s highest court ruled his appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor is legal.

Ravitch says he hopes to bring to the state the same financial stability he brought to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the 1980s.

Source: NY1