Governor David Paterson says his budget cuts will keep the state from going bankrupt.

Paterson added $385 million in health care cuts to the weekly emergency spending bill that lawmakers must approve to keep the government running without a final budget.

The governor says he chose the reductions in health programs because lawmakers have already agreed to the cuts.

If the legislature does not approve the extension on Monday, the state government will shut down.

“If they don’t come to the table it will shut down the government. This is not something I want to do,” Paterson said. “This is certainly a risk and its not something I think would be proper in ordinary circumstances. But when we have been over 60 days late on a deficit reduction plan that threatens the very nature of the quality of life in the state because if the state goes bankrupt if people are screaming and upset now they haven’t seen the beginning of it.”

The legislature is expected to approve the cuts and keep working to reach a budget deal this week.

(Source: NY1)