Skelos, seated, and St. Sen William Larkin

NEW WINDSOR – The top Republican in the state legislature told Hudson Valley business and government leaders that he can work with the new governor on solving a ballooning financial crisis.  Dean Skelos, who became Senate Majority Leader earlier this month, said Democrat David Paterson, who became governor, suddenly, in March, is not Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

“He’s a consensus builder", said Skelos.  "Former Gov. Spitzer, it was either his way or hit the highway.  The [new] governor understands that you have to deal with 212 legislators who represent their districts, which is totally appropriate; and his personality is such, let’s get a result and you do it by consensus building.”

Skelos told the Builders Association of the Hudson Valley that they are already together on some critical issues.

“The most important thing is property taxes, and that is why we are going to support his property tax cap.  People can’t afford to stay in New York State.”

Skelos is calling the Senate into session August 8 to act on the property tax cap.

The full legislature will return to Albany, at Gov. Paterson’s call, on August 19, to deal with the overriding fiscal crisis.

That’s where the outcome is not clear, according to State Senator John Bonacic, who also addressed the builders.  The problem, Democrat Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

“As long as he’s there, he’s going to be an obstacle”, said Bonacic.

“I was hoping the assembly would look for new leadership; new governor, new majority leader.  I was hoping for a new speaker to get away from the politics of the past.”

Bonacic noted some key issues raised by the builders, during a question and answer session.  He said lack of a partner in the assembly is keeping them from acting on issues such as tort reform, a key concern raised by one of the builders.