March 25, 2011
A HUGE WIN OVER THE DEMOCRATS (by a Democrat):
'Incredibly strong and powerful' Gov. Cuomo on brink of budget victory (Kenneth Lovett and Glenn Blain, 3/25/11, NY DAILY NEWS)
Legislative leaders hoped to wrap up budget negotiations Friday on a $133 billion spending plan - sobered by the realization that they lacked the political capital to battle Gov. Cuomo."He is getting basically everything he wanted," one Democratic lawmaker said of Cuomo, who boasts sky-high approval ratings.
The looming agreement would mark just the third time since 1984 that the Legislature approved a budget by the April 1 deadline - 2005 and 2006 were the others.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who often bullied previous governors, all but admitted defeat in a stunning, closed-door session with his conference, sources said.
Silver's message, according to the lawmaker, was: "The governor is incredibly strong and powerful" and Democrats lack the public support to challenge him.
Posted by oj at March 25, 2011 5:11 AM
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