State senators discuss issues facing state budget after fifth extension is passed
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — It'll be try number six at the state budget when lawmakers meet again in Albany later this week.
'We're doing the budget extender to meet payroll. We're going to back here Thursday doing the same,' said State Senator Chris Ryan. 'While we're doing that, we'll be passing those extenders. We're still talking and negotiating.'
As a freshman, the state senator is learning how much law-making, not just number crunching, bogs down the process.
'This is new to me, but some of the issues that we are hung up on are pretty heavy on the policy side,' Ryan said. 'Specifically, cell phone bans and discovery laws, so we're working through those. I'm hopeful and optimistic.'
State senators discuss issues facing state budget after fifth extension is passed
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State Senator Rachel May is hoping to get the state budget done before school budget season.
'Very soon, school districts have to vote on their budgets and they need to know what's coming from the state government,' she said. 'That is what makes it urgent to get this done.'
And trying to keep central New Yorkers happy in the process.
'My district includes four of the Finger Lakes and clean water infrastructure is incredibly important to my constituents in that area, but also Syracuse,' May said. 'So we are trying hard to get a substantial amount of money. '
Recent conversations have her freshly optimistic that the budget will be passed as soon as next week — only three weeks late.
Included in the version of the budget passed by the senate and assembly is $20 million for the Syracuse airport, $450 million for Upstate hospital and $35 million for the regional market. They just have to get the governor to agree.
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