I don't know whether that rumored budget meeting this evening in NYC between the governor and legislative leaders is on, but I saw Morgan Hook, Gov. Paterson's chief spokesman, ducking back into his Albany office at 5 p.m. today, not long after he put out this statement, which says Paterson is going ahead with a final budget extender on Monday. That amounts to a take-it-or-leave it ultimatum to legislative leaders, with their choice being pass the most controversial parts of the budget, including education cuts, as proposed by the governor, or let much of state government shut down.
It doesn't look like a shutdown will happen. The extender (according to the TU) includes $300 million in education restorations. But it also has a 4 percent property tax cap and the governor's plan to let SUNY and CUNY campuses increase their own tuition, both of which have been opposed by Assembly Democrats. Also in it are the clothing sales tax, wine in grocery stores, the limit on rich people's charity deductions, more cuts to state agencies. No sugared soda tax.
The SUNY/CUNY plan has been modified to mollify the Assembly.
Did you see in the New York Times the following Comment of the Moment?
“ That was the State budget being passed...”
Comment #118 by "Gary" to a 6-23-2010 City Roojm blog post entitled, "Earthquake Shakes New York: Did You Even Notice?"
Posted by: Johannah Turner | June 26, 2010 at 03:50 PM