In a special session that will take place Tuesday, Albany lawmakers are set to begin working on budget cuts proposed by Gov. David Paterson last week.

Paterson called the emergency economic session to tackle what he describes as painful decisions. The governor says the longer the state waits to deal with its financial problems, the worse things will get. His plan calls for massive cuts to school aid and Medicaid payments to health care providers. He?s also proposing a tuition hike at state schools.

Senate Republicans and some Democrats say they want to wait until they see Paterson?s budget plan for the next fiscal year before taking any action on the cuts. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) and Assembly Democrat Steven Engelbright (Setauket) are in that camp.

"We are in hard times and so we do need to take some actions,? Engelbright says. ?But the approach that would devastate our communities is one that is particularly troubling.?

State Senator Craig Johnson agrees Paterson?s cuts are harsh. He says Albany needs to get its own act together before it goes ahead with any budget cuts.

Paterson, on the other hand, is blasting lawmakers in both parties for failing to agree to any spending cuts. He warns New York could be heading down the same path as California, which has asked the federal government for a loan.