At least the weather looks good

I was eager to get home tonight early to catch the TV weather, but first was bombarded by ads suggesting why the state shouldn't cut any spending this year.

First was a message from the prison-guards' union, which, to ominous music, said closing prisons is dangerous and that the state should first cut unnamed "bureaucrats'' in Albany.

No mention here of the state's declining prison population, a raise the guards are scheduled to get April 1 or studies that show the state-prison administrative structure is not top-heavy.

Then was an ad saying not to cut $1.4 billion from aid to local schools, as Paterson has proposed. Lots of people were saying how important education is.

But no mention of the fact that we already spend more per pupil than any other state and that teachers in most districts are due raises this year and that the cost of keeping their pensions intact is zooming upwards.

Finally, SUNY advocates had their say: no way we can recover from this recession without a trained work force, no way poor people can afford to pay more - and apparently no way SUNY can economize.

I could talk about lengthening the academic year, week and day, but I hate to beat a dead horse.

No health-care ads in this pod, but providers are bound to be heard from as the April 1 budget date draws near.

Anybody want to pass the hat so that taxpayers can get into this game? Oh, almost forgot. Isn't that supposed to be the Legislature's job?

One more note to keep in mind: as the Paterson scandal continues to unfold and pressure mounts on him to leave office, remember the pledge he made only two weeks ago that the only way he would quit before his term was up would be "in a box.'' Keep that in mind the next time you hear a politician bang the lectern and make a promise.