 In April 2008, Paterson asked the heads of all state agencies to cut their budgets by 3.35% and threatened a hiring freeze; the governor also asked legislative leaders to follow suit.In August 2008, he called a special emergency session of the legislature and enacted 6% across-the-board cuts in all state agencies.He called another special session in November 2008 to trim an additional 3%, but this effort did not meet with success.