Let’s make a deal!
Senate Democrats this afternoon are expected to announce a plan that would dangle millions of dollars in pork-barrel funds, money for new staffers, and tax revenues benefiting upstate in front of their GOP counterparts to secure their votes for an MTA bailout, sources told The Post.
The plan includes reviving taxes on sugary drinks — a proposal Gov. Paterson considered and said could bring $400 million in revenue — and an increased gasoline tax, with the proceeds going to both the MTA and upstate roads and bridges, the sources said. It’s unclear if there are other elements.
But the soda tax may have already fizzled out. The idea is considered “dead on arrival” in the Assembly, the sources said.
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith wants to promise millions in pork-barrel spending in GOP members’ districts and increasing the number of lawmaker aides.
Republicans are still smarting from severe reductions in their districts’ appropriations and from laying off more than 100 of their staffers when Democrats took control of the Legislature.
“Many millions of dollars could be traded,” one source said, pointing out that the Senate had yet to allocate $85 million in earmarks.
Drastic fare hikes for millions of MTA subway, bus and commuter rail riders will go into effect May 31 unless Albany lawmakers intervene.
This is the first time in the messy MTA-bailout negotiations that Democrats are offering funds for the upstate and Long Island bridges and roads.