Deal on budget expected today, legislative leaders say

After emerging from a nearly two-hour meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the state Capitol, legislative leaders had no deal to announce but predicted an agreement today that would pave the way for printing the bills tonight.

Since there was no deal on the budget last night, Cuomo will have to issue messages of necessity so lawmakers are able to vote on the bills on Thursday to ensure an on-time budget. Budget bills typically have to be printed three days before they are voted on, but a message of necessity from the governor can bypass that.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said lawmakers would wait the two days to vote on the bills.

“It’ll be out for two days, we’re going to print tonight and we’ll give you enough time,” Heastie told reporters after the meeting. “I’d say we’re progressing. … There’s just some final details that we have to nail down amongst ourselves and the governor.”

Cuomo’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, paid family leave and education funding are all key items in budget negotiations this year. State Senate Republicans have been critical of the proposal to raise the minimum wage and resolute that the full elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment, a set of education cuts dating back to the Paterson administration, be included in this year’s budget. Earlier this year Cuomo call for eliminating the GEA over two years.

State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, the former Senate Education Committee chairman, has repeatedly vowed not to approve any budget that did not have fair education funding.

“I think we are comfortable that we’re going to have a record increase in education aid, which should be a focal point of everything we do, whether it’s GEA or foundation aid,” Flanagan said while standing alongside Heastie. “I think we are all in a good spot saying we’re going to have significant growth.”

As of now, there is no final deal on education spending or the governor’s proposal to shift Medicaid costs to New York City, to which the Assembly Democrats have been staunchly opposed.

Cuomo did not leave the room to take questions from reporters. The talks on Tuesday took place as part of what appeared to be the first budget meeting actually held in the Capitol this legislative session with the governor and top legislative leaders in attendance, although there have been reports of negotiations over the phone and meetings in the governors mansion.

State Sen. Jeff Klein, the leader of the Independent Democratic Conference who was also included in the leaders meetings today, said he believed the paid family leave proposal was “in a good place” and added it will be the “most robust plan” in the nation.

“I just want to make it clear, we’re probably going to print tonight, and if we do, we’re probably going to have the best budget done – with paid family leave, increase in the minimum wage, eliminating the GEA – I think we’re all coming together with the understanding that we’re going to do a lot of great things this year,” Klein said.