Special Session #10 Shortest Yet, #'s 11,12,13 Set for Holiday Weekend ALBANY, NEW YORK (WXXI) - The State Comptroller says he won't be signing off on paychecks to state Senators while the nearly month long gridlock continues, as Senators resigned themselves to spending the weekend in Albany, under orders by Governor Paterson. Meanwhile, state Senators adjourned special session number ten, without acting on any legislation.

It was another day of gridlock in the State Senate. The two feuding factions, who had both called for open public leaders meetings to resolve differences, could not reach agreement on even the ground rules for holding a meeting. They also bickered over whether Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith had the authority to declare July 3rd a Senate holiday and send non essential staff home. Their 3 pm session, ordered by the governor, was the shortest yet, at around two and half minutes.

The Senators themselves will likely be spending the 4th of July weekend at the Capitol to attend more special sessions each day called by Governor Paterson. The June 8th coup leaders, Senators Espada and Skelos expressed hope that they could reach some kind of deal with Democrats before Saturday.

"Things are in motion, people are talking," said Espada.

Senators Espada and Skelos refused to name which democrats they were speaking to, though Governor Paterson was said to have taken on a larger role in negotiations. The 31 member Democratic conference has appeared to be splintering into factions in recent days.

At day's end State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced that he was withholding the recalcitrant Senators' paychecks until the stalemate is ended. DiNapoli says he is also withholding payment on more than 250 travel vouchers submitted by Senators for their transportation to and from the Capitol to attend the special sessions. The Comptroller has asked a Supreme court judge to determine whether he can legally withhold the Senators' pay.
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