On Wednesday afternoon, Governor David Paterson delivered a short set of remarks directed at New Yorkers. He says that state's financial picture is now even more bleak than when he introduced his budget plan back in January. Capital Tonight's Kaitlyn Ross has the details.

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"Remind them that just as you have had to make the tough choices for yourselves and your families, now they have to make those difficult decisions for the state," said Governor David Paterson.

Prompting positive reinforcement, Paterson says his colleagues in the Senate and Assembly are scared for Election Day and need their constituents to stand behind them.

"Let them know that you will be for them if they put us on the road to fiscal recovery," Paterson said.

According to the Governor though, it's going to be a long road. He first released his budget draft in January and says since then the deficit has grown by 25 percent, making the process even harder.

"A responsible budget is more important than what time it is actually passed," Paterson said.

As it stands, the Governor says the plans laid out by the Senate and the Assembly are fiscally irresponsible and would only work in the short term.

He's not alone in his criticism. Minority Leader Dean Skelos released a statement blasting the majority today, saying, "Since Friday, there have been no negotiations, no meetings and certainly no public budget discussions. Nothing. No progress at all."

And while the Governor too says he wants progress, it comes at a price.

"We cannot accept a budget that cripples the state for our next generation and I will not accept a budget that rewards special interests allowing them not to make the same sacrifices that New Yorkers make every day," Paterson said.

The Governor has taken aim at two special interests in particular. There are various reports that Paterson is threatening to layoff state workers if the Public Employees Federation or CSEA didn't agree to pay cuts for their workers.

PEF fired back, saying they would not reopen their contract with the state of New York: "The anonymous statements from the governor's office vilifying the state workforce and the unions that represent them does not create an atmosphere conducive to a positive solution."

And the Governor maintains New York needs a collective solution.

"We will address these problems as a state, we will face our current challenges and we will build a new foundation for our economic future," Paterson said.

As of midnight, the budget is officially past due and while it was a few days late last year, this year it will be longer because of the Easter and Passover holidays. The Senate isn't back in session until next Wednesday, April 7th.