Paterson vetoes

Gov. David A. Paterson is following through on his campaign to hold the line on state spending and close a projected budget gap that has grown by $1.2 billion since the April 1 start of the fiscal year.

The governor last month warned that the state's fiscal gap will grow to almost $26.2 billion in the next three years without cutbacks. He has asked state agencies to cut $630 million and wants a defiant Legislature to slash another $600 million.

The governor used his veto pen 34 times on a wide range of measures to rein in new spending in bills passed by the Legislature.

Several of the bills will put Gov. Paterson at odds with his fellow Democrats in the Assembly and powerful special interest groups, notably public employee unions.

Among the vetoed measures were bills extending benefits to police officers and firefighters. The benefits, as the governor noted in one veto, would impose financial burdens that could "last for decades." The unforeseen costs adding up over years would also make it difficult for future governors and Legislatures to restrain spending.

Another measure would have required the state Liquor Authority to spend $300,000 to train waiters and waitresses who serve liquor to curb underage sales, something employers should reasonably be expected to do.

The state is facing difficult fiscal times. The governor is wisely avoiding the type of practices that have contributed to our financial troubles and will only add to them in the future.