ALBANY — Legislative leaders began passing budget bills last night in a frantic push to secure a rare early passage of Gov. Cuomo’s $132.5 billion spending plan — with only a day to spare before Friday’s deadline.
Lawmakers launched their goal-line drive after urging from the governor, who argued an early budget would help the much-maligned state government improve its image.
Budget bills that were expected to pass include transportation and one that merges several state agencies, including the departments of banking and insurance.
Still, it was unclear whether both houses would have enough time to debate and pass all 14 pieces of legislation to complete the budget before the deadline.
“It’s critically important that we get a budget early,” said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau).
“It sends a message, but more importantly it keeps the momentum going. I don’t want the Legislature or the governor to be bogged down in stuff that should not be delaying the budget.”
The entire budget must be passed by 12:01 a.m. Friday to be considered “on time,” something Albany hasn’t done in five years.
A budget passed before 12:01 a.m. tomorrow would be “early,” something that hasn’t happened since 1983, when Cuomo’s father, Mario Cuomo, was governor.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) “hoped” to have the budget passed today, but made no promises. “We want to have a budget on time,” he said.
Staff have been working frantically to iron out bill language since the Democratic governor and legislative leaders announced their “definitive framework” Sunday night.
Talks appeared to slow over the final details on Cuomo’s massive plan to reduce projected Medicaid growth by $2.8 billion.
By yesterday morning, administration officials began to fear they’d get a late budget, especially if lawmakers unhappy with the deal drag out debate.