New York State government is so dysfunctional. Another great example was Gov. David Paterson getting rebuffed by his own party as he called for a joint session of the State Legislature to discuss the soaring deficit. Senate Democratic leaders said they didn’t want to “waste the time or taxpayer money to be present for a photo-op for the governor.” However, it is amazing to note that the joint session came on the same day several top Senate Democrats were in Puerto Rico on the taxpayer’s dime.

Maybe our local senators, Bill Stachowski and Antoine Thomas, will listen to their constituents and help to solve the state’s problems, not add to them. Do what is right for your constituents, not the party bosses.

I’m tired of my hard-earned income being wasted by useless politicians whose only purpose is to feed the party. Maybe they should be more concerned about solving the state’s problems than figuring out their per diem reimbursements for this special joint session; but then again, it’s another financial perk for politicians to pad their pockets while emptying ours.

Marian Bauer

East Aurora