By Andrew Polino
Buffalo, NY – Governor David Paterson joined state legislative leaders and civic groups in Albany Wednesday for "Albany on the Record" -- a public conference on state government reform.
Paterson and the other elected leaders discussed ways of reducing the dysfunction in state government. One of the issues was redistricting. Paterson says he supports a nonpartisan redrawing of district lines based on the results of this year's census. He says past redistricting efforts have too often resulted in chaos.
"I really think my colleagues will be doing themselves a great favor if we drew the lines as apolitical as possible," Paterson said.
Still, the leaders of both houses of the Legislature are refusing to embrace such a proposal. They plan some changes to the current system of redrawing district lines but will not support a drastic overhaul long sought by good government groups.