Cuomo watch: A renewed focus on jobs

Though Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has scored recent political victories, none involved "jobs, jobs, jobs," which is his declared theme for 2012.

So as they move to finish budget negotiations, watch for the governor to press legislators to not only fund his infrastructure and transportation proposals but also to give his office more authority on state construction contracts.

Increasingly, he's used a round of radio interviews to focus on the issue.

"What I want to get accomplished is . . . a comprehensive capital plan for the state, the energy [transmission] highway . . . we have a $15 billion infrastructure program that I want to get approved," Cuomo said recently. "That is primarily what I want to see in the budget." -- Yancey Roy