George E. Pataki
PER
George E. Pataki Pataki
Legislators have come under withering criticism for passing a budget last week that would more than double the new debt proposed over the next two years by Gov. George E. Pataki. Under Mr. Pataki's budget proposal, state-supported debt would rise to $51.6 billion by the fiscal year ending in March 2008, although lawmakers want to add nearly $5 billion to that amount. Mr. Pataki has also proposed extending New York's borrowing reach abroad. The Pataki administration and legislative leaders are negotiating their differences in the overall budget.