Following today’s leaders meeting in the Red Room, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was uncharacteristically fired up, saying much of the budget negotiations – including today’s meeting – have been nothing more than political theater.

Silver is placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos.

Reprising his leaders meeting performance, Silver criticized Skelos for pushing for budget talks without formally taking a stance on the budget issues.

“(The Assembly majority) put out a plan, the Senate majority put out a plan. When you want to create this theater, then it’s not time to just talk about it…put out the plan,” Silver said.

“Tell us where the votes are, what you actually support. Then, we can come together and compromise.”

Silver said special legislative sessions are not necessary because his members are committed to working on a “seven-day basis, 24 hours a day if necessary.”

I assume the Speaker means starting Monday, since lawmakers have left Albany for the week.

UPDATE: The response from Senate Minority Spokesman, Mark Hansen, is after the page break.

“Senator Skelos, Senator Sampson, Assemblyman Kolb and Governor Paterson all agreed to joint, public budget conference committees, with Speaker Silver the lone holdout,” said Hansen.

“At the leader’s meeting, the governor directed the speaker to convene conference committees and we expect he will agree with the governor.  Senate Republicans look forward to discussing our proposals to reduce state spending in joint, public conference committees beginning Monday.”

Also, don’t forget Senator Skelos will be our guest tonight on Capital Tonight at 8 (re-air at 11:30)

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