Albany lawmakers passed a stopgap funding bill Tuesday as negotiations over Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $252 billion budget plan remained at a standstill.
The governor and state legislators were once again set to blow past the state’s April 1 deadline to approve a spending plan for the next fiscal year.
Talks hit a “standstill” over the weekend as Hochul stood her ground on two key policy pitches aimed at reducing crime and mayhem in New York City streets and subways.
The marquee proposals include reforming the state’s criminal evidence-sharing laws and expanding involuntary commitments of mentally ill people.
The governor’s budget director, Blake Washington, promised Monday afternoon that Hochul “can’t compromise” on her discovery law changes and her involuntary commitment proposal, signaling that she’s willing to hold up talks “as long as it takes to deliver.”
Hochul has never signed an on-time budget, this being the fourth consecutive year of blowing past the statutory deadline.
State Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) expressed annoyance that Hochul appears to be holding up the remainder of talks over actual fiscal items in the budget before she gets a deal on her policy proposals.
“Personally, that’s quite frustrating to me,” Krueger said while debating legislation on the state Senate floor to keep the state funded as talks get drawn out.
“I think we can do both things at once, but apparently that is not in the cards so I do not know the answer of when we will actually get to the budget bills,” Krueger said.
Republicans blasted Democrats for the perennial tardiness.
“I’d rather have a good budget than an on time budget, but we’re going to get neither in this case,” state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-Niagara)
Sources said legislative leaders and Hochul were slated to meet Tuesday morning. Lawmakers were off Monday due to the Eid holiday.
The legislature’s budget expansion bill will cover payroll and fund other areas of state spending such as Medicaid through Thursday.
The budget extender legislation gives negotiators until then to either reach a deal or pass another extension.
Hochul effectively controls the extensions and is prepared to blow up lawmakers’ planned two-week break beginning after Passover if they don’t have a deal together by then, sources suggested Tuesday.
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