There are muted mutterings in the Capitol hallways about how the state's budget deal is faring among top leaders behind closed doors, before budget bills are presented and voted on in the legislative houses. One account has it that the school aid concerns are focused on the numbers for two Long Island districts and the New York City share.
Health-care advocates have issued congratulations to the negotiators for not chopping spending in areas that they saw as vulnerable -- which still leaves blurred where the lion's share of cuts and revenue raisers are supposed to come from. A seasoned lobbyist earlier expressed surprise that it was "a pretty good budget" for spending, considering "we are in a recession."
"I can't imagine they'll have this kind of money available next year," especially given recent troubles of Wall Street, said the lobbyist -- who even expressed concern about whether state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli will be able to certify the soft numbers on which the plan is based....Updates as they come in.
Dan Janison in Albany