Cuomo's poll popularity rises ahead of 2013 budget release

While Gov. Andrew Cuomo's public popularity is soaring -- with the latest poll putting his approval rating at an all-time high -- he still has to win over Albany on Tuesday when he releases his budget proposal for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

One key issue: education spending, which Cuomo and lawmakers have previously agreed to increase by 4%. But the Democratic governor is looking to condition that increase to a new teacher evaluation system, according to legislative sources.

The governor wouldn't expand on that Monday, only telling reporters it's "one of the issues we are considering for the budget."

It's uncertain how the proposal will play in the Legislature. Its top Republican reserved judgment about changing the school-aid agreement to link it with teacher evaluations.

Cuomo has said New York has been warned it could lose $700 million in federal aid if it doesn't revamp its teacher evaluation process.

(With Newsday)

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A Siena Research Institute poll released Monday shows the honeymoon isn't over for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, although New Yorkers aren't sold on all his plans for the state: