State Senate Democrats to meet to discuss budget bill

ALBANY - Whether the State Senate remains here this week to finish the budget was in doubt last night.

At 11 p.m., a spokesman for Senate Democratic chief John Sampson said Democratic senators would meet privately at noon today to decide how to proceed on the final budget bill.

But five hours earlier, Sampson held a news conference to announce senators would leave the Capitol last night and return after the Fourth of July holiday to complete the budget, which is 92 days late. He said he needed time to negotiate a compromise on thorny issues with Gov. David A. Paterson and the Assembly speaker.

Sampson told reporters he hoped to strike a deal on Paterson's proposals giving SUNY and CUNY freedom to set tuition and the creation of a reserve fund in case New York does not receive a promised $1-billion in Medicaid funds from Washington. Both plans face opposition in the Democrat-controlled Assembly.

Sampson, of Brooklyn, also said he would seek Paterson's support for restoring $600 million of the governor's proposed $1.5-billion cut in school aid. The legislature put the money back in the budget on Monday only to see it vetoed hours later by Paterson. Of the restored aid, about $300 million was to go for property tax relief.

Sampson has been grappling with rebellious colleagues. A couple of Democratic senators, including Brian X. Foley of Blue Point, have indicated they will vote "no" on the budget bill unless SUNY and CUNY receive autonomy. The bill, which authorizes more than $1 billion in taxes, is the final component of the $136-billion budget.

In the closely divided Senate, all 32 Democrats have been needed to adopt budget bills because the 30-member Republican conference has voted "no" in a bloc. "There are still outstanding issues we have to deal with ... It's not that I cannot get the 32 votes," Sampson said.

In the Assembly, Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said, "We hope to conclude the business of the session [today]."

However, he appeared firm in his stance that the SUNY/CUNY issue not hold up final adoption of the budget. He also opposes setting aside money to close a future budget deficit if federal health care funds aren't forthcoming, though he conceded to drawing up a contingency plan.

That was Sampson's public position until yesterday, when he insisted the reserve fund was his top priority.

Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) blasted Sampson for suggesting a recess. Democrats "had no problem passing bills to increase spending, but now they are going home without passing a bill to pay for it."

Paterson declined to comment.

In Washington yesterday, he joined other governors in lobbying for the Medicaid money. "All of the money will really be spent for deficit relief . . . We have cut as much as we can."