In spite of the fact that the budget is now over a month late and Gov. David Paterson has called for the Legislature to work five days a week in Albany until a deal is reached, both the Senate and the Assembly have gaveled out of session and members are already en route back to their districts.

Earlier today, reporters tried in vain to get Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson to engage on this topic.

NY1′s Erin Billups sent the following exchange between members of the Capitol media pack and Sampson after today’s reform event, which would be amusing if it weren’t so damn frustrating and pathetic:

Billups: Are you keeping your members here throughout the week? Are they going to stay throughout the week Senator?

Sampson: (No answer)

TU’s Jimmy Vielkind: Are your members staying or are they going home?

Sampson: (No answer)

Billups: Are they going home or are they staying? Senator can you just answer the question?

Sampson: (No answer).

DN’s Glenn Blain: Are you going to keep you members here throughout the week?

Sampson: (No answer).

This went on for a while, Billups said, until Sampson finally blurted out: “I’ll be working on the budget.”

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