When Gov. David Paterson last week released his grim road map for rectifying New York’s $15.4 billion deficit, he did so with a forceful and mostly somber exposition of the problem. He coupled this earnestness with just a bit of his trademark humor. In the end, he still angered just about everyone. As it turns out, Paterson even counted himself among the miffed.
Paterson’s $121 billion spending plan calls for almost flat spending growth next year, with schools and health care each taking financial hits. Deep cuts in spending would follow after that. Thousands of state jobs would be eliminated, including 520 via layoffs. Paterson proposed a multitude of new or increased taxes and fees, reaching virtually every facet of New York life…