If they are approved, state worker furloughs would start May 17 and save an estimated $30 million a week.

It’s likely the furloughs would face a court challenge.

Here’s the state Budget Division’s furlough memo, sent out yesterday.

Paterson is also proposing an early retirement incentive program in hopes of luring older and higher-paid public employees out of the system.

The Times calls Paterson’s push for a so-called pardon panel “brave – and startling,” adding: “(the governor has) shown courage and common sense at a time when the national debate about immigration shows little of either.”

Faisal Shahzad admitted to his role in the failed Times Square car bombing.

Mayor Bloomberg questioned airport security measures that enabled Shahzad to board a plane at Kennedy even though he was on a “no-fly” list.

The red shirt guy was not the Times Square bomber.

The DN says the thwarted terror attempt proves the city needs more funding from Washington.

Ditto, says Rep. Peter King.

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly needs to brush up on his “24″ lore.

The Washington Post has some questions for the Obama administration about Shahzad’s arrest.

Former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno was a “pro-active target,” confronting the FBI early on about its probe into his outside business interests, dubbed “Operation Green Pastures.”

“A lot of Republicans who might have run for office this year said, ‘I don’t have faith in this leadership,’” I think that every one of those incumbents should be thrown out of office — Republicans and Democrats,” said former Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld, who ran for Senate in 2008.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver isn’t a fan of the Senate’s charter school bill, but hasn’t ruled out a deal on cap-raising legislation.

The pro-charter groups hired Silver’s former top aide, Pat Lynch, as their lobbyist.

The Post has some choice words for UFT President Mike Mulgrew.

A bill pushed by Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr. would give DAs more power to prosecute government corruption cases.

Senate President Malcolm Smith insists he has an open mind about redistricting reform.

AG hopeful Eric Dinallo talked Wall Street reform on MSNBC.

The NYLCV is poised to endorse Paterson’s plan to let grocery stores sell wine.

A former aide to ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate, Wayne Mahlke, allegedly cussed out a cop and tried to bully his way out of an arrest by flashing a fake police placard.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s husband bet against housing stocks during the collapse of the real-estate market.

Gillibrand is launching a Mother’s Day campaign to improve care for breast cancer patients.

Jay Kriegel pens an ode to his former boss, the late Mayor John Lindsay.

Only the governor resigning in a prostitution scandal would be stranger than Reshma Saujani winning her primary challenge to Rep. Carolyn Maloney, according to Evan Stavisky.

Paterson says a special election in NY-29 is unlikely. (He’s being sued over that).

A ruling by the state’s highest court expanded the rights of gay and lesbian parents.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano’s budget scraps the 4 percent property tax hike imposed by his predecessor, Tom Suozzi.

A little-noticed aspect of Paterson’s budget proposal: It transfers maintenance responsibilities for I-84 from the Thruway Authority to the DOT.

A DEC official on Long Island may have violated state ethics guidelines.

The NYC Rent Guidelines Board is considering rate hikes.

Several bills pending in the Legislature address the issue of cyber-bullying.

Rick Lazio talked energy production in Watertown.

Candidates are lining up for the Assembly seat Joe Errigo is vacating.

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