Albany Times Union, NY
April 5 2004

Spending talks going to school

The failure by the “three men” to go into a room and come out with an
on-time budget for the 20th year in a row dashed the hopes of an
early summer vacation of not a few legislative staffers (and
lawmakers). Some gloomily predicted the budget battle among Gov.
George Pataki, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority
Leader Joseph Bruno could again drag out until as late as July.

But several sources who ought to know insist it may not. With the
exception of education, they say, the framework of the budget
agreement is essentially done.

One lawmaker joked that saying the budget is all-but-done — minus
education — is like saying you’ve undertaken an enormous spring
cleaning and managed to make everything sparkle with the exception of
a pile of … well, something, in the corner.

With the Legislature on break, staffers continue to discuss the
logjam — how to address a court-ordered reform of the way the state
funds public schools. Reporters trying to get Pataki to answer
questions have always faced obstacles — limited availability,
evasive answers, news conferences cut short. But at a news conference
Monday, a new problem arose: a question limit.

Pataki and Frank Zarb, head of a commission the governor created to
address last year’s court order to improve funding for New York City
schools and provide children a “sound, basic education,” were
fielding dozens of questions on the report by the commission.

Then one wire service reporter had the audacity to ask a follow-up
question.

“You’ve asked a lot of questions already,” said Pataki Communications
Director Lisa Dewald Stoll (who didn’t seem bothered by multiple
questions from any other reporter).

Asked later if there was a new question quota, Pataki spokesman Kevin
Quinn responded: “It’s sad that our press office would need enforce
common courtesies that every child learns at an early age, which is
to share and take turns,” he said. “Our ‘kinder, gentler’ press
office encourages manners.”

Whether Pataki’s press office got that memo, however, wasn’t
immediately apparent the next day. Two aides double-teamed several
reporters whose coverage of the Zarb report, they contended, did
Pataki wrong. In all fairness, they did take turns berating the
reporters on speakerphone.

One Capitol observer last week was astounded at the openness of state
government. OK, he’s from Armenia.

Nver Sargsyan said that in his country, the public must stand
outdoors behind gates when their elected and appointed government
leaders discuss policy and financing.

Sargsyan, 27, a coordinator for International Executive Service Corp.
staying briefly in the area, was outside Pataki’s guarded chambers
when the governor emerged to take a few questions about his
discussions with Silver and Bruno.

“Compared to Armenia, it’s very open, even though he talks and then
he left,” Sargsyan said.

Armenia’s national budget, he added, is usually three or four months
late, and things like worker salaries don’t necessarily get funded.

Contributors: Capitol bureau reporters Elizabeth Benjamin, Erin
Duggan and James M. Odato.

Got a tip? Call 454-5424 or e-mail jjochnowitz@times union.com.