Paterson sets target date for cuts

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. David Paterson is asking the Legislature to give him proposals by Wednesday for cutting $2.5 billion from the current budget.

Paterson says he wants concrete ideas for continuing savings to the state.

The request comes two days after Paterson ordered cuts worth $500 million from executive branch agencies.
Paterson says he and legislative leaders now agree the current deficit is at least $3 billion in the 2009-10 budget adopted in April.

The Democrat says Thursday he also plans a meeting with the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and Assembly on Wednesday to create a consensus for how to address the deficit.

Legislative leaders have said they want the governor to propose politically dicey cuts in spending, with their responses to follow.