The politics of paralysis

If you thought last year at the Capitol was ugly, you ain't seen nothing yet. Steve Harmon in the Daily News.

While the past year was rife with unfulfilled expectations as lawmakers failed to produce hoped-for reforms in health care, water storage and political behavior, prospects are strong for even more legislative paralysis and partisan sniping in 2008.

"It will be the year of low expectations," said Garry South, a Democratic consultant who served under former Gov. Gray Davis. "And those probably won't even be met."

Democrats are already grumbling about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's announced plan to slice 10 percent from the budget of every state agency, and are saying it's time to start thinking about increasing taxes.

Republicans, em