Cuomo watch: Race to the budget deadline

The State Legislature revs up this week as it tries to adopt a budget well before the April 1 deadline.

Look for the Senate and Assembly to each pass its own budget plan Monday, followed by an accelerated schedule of joint "conference committees" to publicly discuss the differences. The committee process probably will close Thursday -- making it possible for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the legislature to announce a conceptual budget agreement Thursday, Friday or, at the latest, Sunday.

That will give lawmakers enough time to print the bills and honor the required three-day waiting period before voting on legislation and wrap up things by March 21 or 22 (before the Passover-Easter holidays start).

-- Yancey Roy