The state legislature has finally reached an agreement on a budget that was due on April 1, sort of. Senate leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have agreed on the plan, but Sampson may not have the votes; Governor Paterson may use his line-item veto to strip it of member items (earmarks), millions in restored school aid, and any spending he doesn’t think we can afford; and it may be anywhere from $200 million to $1.5 billion short of closing the budget gap, depending on whether Congress comes through with $1 billion in Medicaid funds. At least the state government won’t shut down and cause society to collapse! Probably! [NYDN, NYP, NYT]
