The state budget is stretching into its third week of tardiness. But there are ways the process can potentially move along: A stopgap spending bill that expires after 24 hours that could keep lawmakers in Albany and negotiating. There’s no indication Hochul is on the verge of doing so after the current budget extender expires on Monday, and lawmakers have insisted they can reach a deal in the coming days. Still, the idea has been at least discussed in the governor’s office, a person familiar with the conversations said. The 24-hour tactic would be a change from Hochul’s current approach of sending budget extender bills that keep the state government funded largely timed to meeting state worker payroll each week. Some lawmakers weren’t thrilled with the prospect — underscoring how a daily deadline could be seen as a provocative escalation in the delicate budget negotiations. “It’s a public relations tactic that the governor should be above using,” Manhattan Democratic Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell said. Nevertheless, some Democrats and Republicans believe such a move could help hasten the process, which has turned into a slog amid an impasse over housing policy. “From my perspective, it’s time to get this budget done,” Hudson Valley Democratic Assemblymember Ken Zebrowski said. “Whatever moves this along, fine by me.” Long Island Republican Assemblymember Ed Ra believes sending 24-hour extensions of spending could be an effective use of the governor’s considerable power over the budget process. “It’s going to keep the members [in Albany], and it’s going to keep the discussion going and it’s hopefully going to move us to a conclusion,” he said. And Bronx Assemblymember Kenny Burgos was also open to the idea: “If it’s a method which gets us to an agreeable situation, then it’s fine by me.” Governors have leverage over lawmakers in the budget process. In 2017, with a budget undone and a deadline about to be missed, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent the Legislature a temporary spending plan that kept the state government funded for two months. The strategy was meant to turn up the heat on lawmakers, who are not paid until a state budget is finalized. Lawmakers ultimately reached a deal days later. New York’s top elected officials remain at odds over the details of a sweeping housing plan, which hit snags this week as dozens of Democrats in the Legislature vowed to vote down any budget that weakens tenant protections approved in 2019. The deadlock has led to the third blown budget deadline in the last three years. It was a discordant week at the state Capitol, with the state Senate and Assembly approving the fourth budget extension since the missed April 1 deadline on separate days while closed-door meetings between the governor and top lawmakers were held. The state Assembly put the finishing touches on the extension measure this afternoon. With Hochul’s signature, the state government is funded until Monday. There was a relaxed atmosphere in the Assembly chamber this afternoon as lawmakers were preparing to approve the extension bill. Some lawmakers brought their children to the chamber while others talked about their weekend plans. For now, lawmakers have not been told definitively whether to remain in town for the weekend. — Nick Reisman and Jason Beeferman
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