Gov. David Paterson Calls Legislature Back to Finish Budget

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP/ 1010 WINS) -- Gov. David Paterson is calling the Legislature back for a rare summer session to complete a state budget now 15 weeks late.

Paterson announced an extraordinary session for Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m. He says that if a budget isn't finished, he'll call another session for Thursday.

He says the Legislature must agree on a contingency plan in the event $1 billion in threatened Medicaid funding from Washington is lost.

He also wants action on his plan to allow the public universities to grow unfettered by Albany, including giving them power to raise tuition without legislative approval.

The Senate's Democratic majority says it plans to attend the session. A single revenue bill requires passage by the Senate to finish the budget.