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The full Legislature has been in the capital all week long for special sessions called by Governor David Paterson.

On Thursday, senate Republicans criticized the Democrats' decision to leave before reach a deal to close the state's $3.2 billion budget deficit.

"Do you know where Carl Kruger is? Do you know where Reverend Diaz is? Do you know where just about every senate Democrat?" said Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos. "Rather than continuing to reach an agreement, the Democrats have gone home."

Democrats, though, point the finger at Republicans, arguing they're the ones holding up talks by refusing to agree on cuts to healthcare and education.

"As of last night, after we spent all day yesterday going over the details of our proposal, they told us they could not accept our proposal," said Senator Liz Krueger.

After a leaders meeting Thursday, legislators say they agree on about $2.6 billion of the $3.2 billion needed to close the gap. But it's clear the governor's proposed cuts to education aid are still a major stumbling block.

"I think we'll get the governor to come around to our point of view, as long as we get to where the governor needs to get," said Senate Conference Leader John Sampson.

"With 55 percent of the spending in our budget coming from healthcare and education, we have to have representative cuts in those two areas," Paterson said.

Krueger says keeping rank and file lawmakers in Albany while the leaders worked out the kinks didn't make sense.

"We weren't ready to do a bill today and that we would be ready on Monday," Krueger said.

Democrats also claim Republicans had no intention of actually voting on a deficit reduction plan, saying they want to be able to blame Democrats for the cuts during the 2010 campaign season -- all in an effort to win back the majority.

"I've seen in session this week just a bitterness and inability to deal with the crisis at hand, and I expect that we will not be able to include them in positive discussions," said Senator Neil Breslin.

Lawmakers are expected to return to work on Monday although could return earlier if there is a deal.

On Wednesday, both houses managed to pass the long-negotiated Authorities Reform Bill, which aims to increase transparency among the state's agencies.

Also, the State Senate passed and Paterson signed a tough new drunk driving law called "Leandra's Law," which makes it a felony to drive drunk with a child under the age of 16 in the car.

The law is named for Leandra Rosado, who died last month at age 11 in a crash on the West Side Highway.