Asked what happened between last Friday, when the legislative leaders were still insisting they wanted a three-way budget deal, and the moment when they departed from the governor and went their own way, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said:

“Obviously the governor called us, his staff, and briefed us on his version of a three-way deal, which was a number of things that didn’t effect the budget, that, you know, didn’t help us get there, and things that neither house wanted.”

“…And there was no reason to tie it to the budget. The reason he tied it to the budget has a lot to do with why this budget is late.”

Silver insisted only $200 million is separating the leaders from Gov. David Paterson – “less than a tenth of one percent” – and also maintained that the two-way deal is indeed balanced.

“There is no shutdown,” the speaker stressed.

Both houses of the Legislature have now gaveled in and out without addressing any of the governor’s bills. The governor is scheduled to have a Red Room press conference at 8:30 p.m.

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