Cuomo, Paladino Both Back Gov. Paterson's Layoffs
NEW YORK (AP) -- The two major party candidates for governor said they support Gov. David Paterson's plan to shed 2,000 state jobs by the time he leaves office Dec. 31.
In a campaign stop in Rochester, Democrat Andrew Cuomo said he supports the current Democratic governor's plan announced Thursday. Cuomo also said he wanted to cut bureaucracy by 20 percent by consolidating agencies.
Tea Party favorite and Republican candidate Carl Paladino has long called for a 20-percent cut in state spending and a 10-percent cut in taxes, much of it by reducing the size of the state's 200,000-worker force.
Public employee unions were fighting Paterson's plan, saying Paterson was bound by an agreement prohibiting layoffs during his tenure. Now the candidates who would succeed him said they will carry out the plan if necessary.
(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
