With NY budget overdue, lawmakers consider stopgap spending

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York lawmakers considered stopgap legislation to help keep state government running Monday as negotiations on the overdue budget continued behind closed doors.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders, all Democrats, were unable to reach a deal on a state spending plan before the new fiscal year began Friday. The “extender” appropriations bill sent to the Legislature on Monday allows New York to meet payroll and other obligations through Thursday.

The state Senate approved the extender bill Monday afternoon. The state Assembly was expected to take it up later in the day.

Changes to the state’s bail system, child care subsidies and other policies were being discussed by state leaders as part of the roughly $216 billion budget.

Democratic state Sen. Liz Kruger said she was cautiously optimistic that bills for the spending plan could be considered by the Legislature by Thursday.