ALBANY, N.Y. -- Memo to state senators: No deal, no paychecks.

Joining the chorus of fed-up New Yorkers, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has frozen the 62 lawmakers' biweekly checks, pending a resolution to the three week old conflict or a court order to start the payments.

But while those salaries are frozen, legal tabs from the dispute are running into what could total tens of thousands of dollars.

There are now four cases and more than a dozen attorneys litigating the June 8th upheaval. Most are on the state payroll. At least four are outside counsels commanding hourly rates dwarfing those of municipal workers across the state who some fear will be laid off as a result of the partisan jam.

At the top, a pair of Manhattan law partners representing Senate Democrats charging $525 and $750 each. An Albany attorney is joining them at $250 an hour.

A Senate democratic spokesman says they are waiting to assess a final bill before deciding whether to pay with taxpayer funds or campaign donations.

Governor Paterson is also spending taxpayer money on outside counsel in a so far successful attempt at forcing both sides to a joint session. The cost? His office won't say.

Republicans, however, rely solely on part-time staff attorneys.

Troubling to some, lawyers on the other side also serve on the state's public integrity commission, with one also overseeing state judicial conduct.

Meanwhile, Paterson is playing a new role as mediator to the conflict, meeting with both sides together.

Though the meeting in itself could be seen as progress, some emerged saying nothing had really changed. Lawmakers will be here through the holiday weekend.