Gov. David A. Paterson delivered his first State of the State address to the Legislature on Wednesday, an often sobering message that came as thousands of union members gathered in freezing rain outside the Capitol to protest his proposed budget cuts.

The governor’s speech contained little in the way of new policy initiatives, partly because there is scant money available to pay for new programs and partly because Mr. Paterson already rolled out his budget plan in mid-December — more than a month early — in anticipation of a bitter budget battle this year.

He did announce several new proposals intended to fight obesity, including a ban on trans fats in restaurants and a requirement that restaurant chains post information on the calories in their offerings. The proposals, which would require legislative approval, follow similar programs in New York City and California. Mr. Paterson said he would seek to ban junk food sales in public schools and to lend state money to green markets willing to open in poor communities. The governor has already unveiled a plan to impose an 18 percent tax on sugary sodas.

We must aggressively address the most serious threat to the young people of New York State right now: the epidemic of childhood obesity, he said.

Those plans were praised by health advocates and medical groups, while a litany of other groups, from education advocates to public employees’ unions, continued to decry plans to make steep cuts to close a $15 billion deficit.

Mr. Paterson also announced a plan for the state to use renewable energy or to improve efficiency to meet 45 percent of its electricity demand within 15 years. And he reiterated plans to expand health care coverage and create a new higher education loan program.

Inside the Capitol, the mood was upbeat among Democrats, who have taken complete control of the Legislature. It is the first time since the early 1970s that one party has had control.

Shortly before the governor’s speech, Malcolm A. Smith, a Queens Democrat, was elected majority leader of the State Senate. Mr. Smith is the first Democrat to lead the chamber in 43 years and the first African-American to lead a majority party in the State Legislature.

Mr. Smith’s ascension will significantly change the recent power dynamic; Senate Republicans often thwarted the last two Democratic governors.

Mr. Smith pledged to overhaul the way the Senate is run, making it more open to scrutiny, and to work closely with the governor. But he has differed with Mr. Paterson in some areas, calling for far deeper cuts to the state work force and for more consolidation of state agencies and authorities than the governor has envisioned.

The governor, who is legally blind, spent 60 hours memorizing his speech, which lasted about an hour — longer than he usually speaks. The speech was interspersed with examples of his trademark buoyant humor and with poetry — he recited Opportunity by Edward Rowland Sill, which grandiosely muses about a wounded prince who makes the most of a broken sword he discovers on a battlefield.

Mr. Paterson also telegraphed the grim reality that he and other Democrats now face.

The state of the state is perilous, he said, adding that our economy is damaged and our confidence is shaken.

Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the Assembly and a Manhattan Democrat, said after the address that there is no way to sugarcoat the condition of the state.

Inevitably, there will be fewer resources for government programs that governors can count on, and some of our goals that we have been working for, and we have sponsored as individual legislators, as a house, and collectively as a state, will have to be delayed, he added.

As Mr. Paterson began his speech in the lofty chamber of the State Assembly just after 1 p.m., thousands of protesters from labor unions were gathered on the Capitol’s eastern steps, wearing union-issued yellow or blue ski caps against the cold. Speaker after speaker criticized Mr. Paterson for proposing to take back portions of raises that were granted to state workers last year, and for refusing to raise taxes on the wealthy to help balance the state budget.

They raised signs advising Cut the Waste, Not the Workers and, in one case, Sell the Rug — a reference to reports that in July the state bought several antique rugs for the Executive Mansion, at a cost of nearly $40,000.

Hey hey, ho ho, Paterson’s budget has got to go, shouted Kenneth Brynien, the president of the Public Employees Federation and one of the rally’s speakers.

With that, someone cued up the Twisted Sister anthem We’re Not Gonna Take It, which blasted over the loudspeakers and echoed around the plaza.

The day was a turning point for Republicans, who have now been almost entirely marginalized — almost, because they will probably hold 30 of the 62 seats in the Senate, pending the outcome of a closely contested race in Queens, and will still be needed on a great number of contentious votes.

Dean G. Skelos, a Long Island Republican and the outgoing majority leader, opened his remarks during a press conference with praise for Mr. Paterson’s ability to deliver a speech from memory, a skill that the governor has used before to wow audiences.

He makes us reflect on the incredible ability that he has had to overcome his challenges to deliver a speech, without a teleprompter, for close to an hour, from memory, Mr. Skelos said.

But he seemed less satisfied with the speech’s contents.

Asked if there was anything in the address that concerned him, Mr. Skelos replied, somewhat archly, I learned an awful lot about child obesity in the governor’s speech.

He also said that Mr. Paterson — who has devoted a majority of his public statements in recent months to the state’s fiscal crisis — had missed an opportunity to maybe rally the Legislature a little bit more, as well as the public at large, about the state’s budget problems.

Still, there was some praise for the governor’s anti-obesity initiatives.

Dr. Michael H. Rosenberg, president of The Medical Society of the State of New York, said, The epidemic of childhood obesity must be contained. David Kirchhoff, the president and chief executive of Weight Watchers International, said he applauded the governor’s recognition of the importance of creating a healthy environment for children in the home, in restaurants and in schools.

Source: NY Times