N.Y. governor urges rescue plan for states

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- New York Gov. David Paterson urged Congress Wednesday to put together a financial rescue package for state governments.

Paterson testified before the House Ways and Means Committee that many states are already hard-pressed to balance their budgets without potentially crippling cuts in state services.

"State governments are on the front lines of service delivery for our citizens for programs like Medicaid and other social services," Paterson said in his written testimony. "The results of federal inaction could be devastating in every corner of our nation."

The governor said that while states were "cutting as fast as we can," Washington needed to provide help with such things as unemployment benefits and infrastructure funding.

The New York Times said Paterson Tuesday called on state lawmakers to start brainstorming on reducing the budget deficit ahead of a special session of the Legislature on Nov. 18.