ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  -- Gov. David Paterson said the New York Legislature's inaction so far on spending cuts he wants approved in Tuesday's emergency economic session is embarrassing and more than irresponsible. But even after closed-door political discussions on Monday, it seemed unlikely the measures would be approved.


Stan Brooks Reports

After separate private meetings, Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos said his GOP majority agreed to put Paterson's bills to a vote on the floor Tuesday. But Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said more discussion is needed and Paterson's bills won't even be discussed by the conference until two hours before the special session called by the governor.

The governor's bills might not even get an Assembly vote Tuesday.

Paterson said failure to act Tuesday on his $5 billion in proposed cuts would be ``more than irresponsible, it doesn't make sense ... it's embarrassing.''

``It is really just being out of touch with where the people of New York are,'' Paterson said in a brief teleconference with reporters Monday. ``The people of New York have no sympathy for the Legislature. Individuals have had to cut back on their costs.''

Skelos said the cuts, particularly the midyear school aid cuts, are unfair and should be part of a state budget proposal, not ``piecemeal.''

``Doing budgets piecemeal, I think that's totally irresponsible,'' Skelos said. Despite Paterson's urging, Skelos doesn't plan to offer an alternative to the governor's proposals that could be negotiated to approval. Skelos said he didn't recommend a vote by the GOP conference, which was already opposed to Paterson's proposals.

``It's a total lack of leadership for someone to tell us he's not making a recommendation, he's not putting anything together,'' Silver said.

Paterson said failure to address the projected $2 billion deficit this fiscal year will drive up the deficit forecast for next year from $12.5 billion to $15 billion.

Paterson noted Citigroup Inc.'s announcement Monday it will cut 53,000 more jobs, showing Wall Street's meltdown is far from over. And state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced state tax collections have been so dismal that officials projected zero dollars in business tax revenue for October. State budget officials had projected the tax would generate $111 million during the month.

Albany's powerful special interests _ including teachers' unions and other public employee unions _ have fought Paterson's proposals. Hundreds of protesters were scheduled to arrive in more than two dozen buses Tuesday to oppose his education and health care cuts.

A Siena College poll found three-quarters of New Yorkers want spending reduced, rather than any increases in taxes or borrowing, but most of the 626 registered voters polled between Nov. 10 and Nov. 13 also didn't want education or health care cut. And despite Paterson's opposition to raising taxes, 77 percent of those polled expect he'll cave in the end. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points

Senate Democratic leader Malcolm Smith, who is in line to lead the new Democratic majority come Jan. 1, wouldn't say if he had enough votes to pass any of Paterson's bills.

Silver said some of Paterson's proposals go too far, but he said the Legislature should take action soon because delay will only make the fiscal chaos worse.

Failure to approve Paterson's proposals Tuesday could mean no negotiation or action until after Paterson proposes his 2009-10 budget on Dec. 16. Or it could mean Skelos and the GOP senators could pass the fiscal crisis on to the Democratic majority, which would have a tenuous 32-30 majority on Jan. 1 after more than 40 years of Republican rule. Skelos is also counting on a federal stimulus package under negotiation in Washington, which could bring billions of dollars to New York.

Skelos argued midyear cuts in school aid would be disruptive to students and teachers. Waiting for the 2009-10 budget to address the crisis would also allow lawmakers to make the politically difficult choices once, rather than twice.

``We believe the governor is doing the right thing and leading the state and this government in the right way,'' Smith said, declining to comment later after Skelos said Paterson's bills would go to the Senate floor for a vote.