Albany Update Volume 4 - March 5, 2004 Will This Be the Year for an On-Time Budget? Ever since January, the buzz around the Capitol has been that this could be the year that New York State enacts on "on-time" budget. In this case, on-time means signed, sealed and delivered by midnight March 31st. To give you some perspective on likelihood of this happening, there hasn't been an on-time budget in over 20 years, and the last times the legislature came close to being on time was in 1992 and 1993. For those two years the budgets were passed within a few days of April 1st, but still late nonetheless. However, since then lateness of the budget is discussed in weeks and usually months, not days. So what makes this year different than all the rest? Well, that is a question most of us who are entrenched in this process keep asking ourselves. As is usual in an election year, budgets tend to get done "sooner rather than later" - meaning before the end of session and rarely after the first of July. But an election alone cannot determine the timeliness of a budget. This year the Legislature is still faced with major deficits, large cuts to education and Medicaid and, while revenues are on the rise, these increases are not enough to fill the large gaps that remain. In addition, the biggest wild card factor is the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) issue with regards to school aid funding across the state. Many believe if that becomes a major player for the Assembly in budget negotiations, an on time budget is all but a dead issue. Insiders at the Capitol are also disagreeing on the likelihood of a timely budget. Some staff believe that the availability of new revenues is enough to buy back cuts and provide funding to each house for special interests, therefore making an April 1st deadline easier. Others, however, say that the internal process of negotiations, meetings, bill drafting and such has not moved far enough along for an April 1st budget. So there you have it.—the answer is a definite "maybe". Lobby Day Reminder As many of us have observed over the last month, Tuesdays and Lobby days are a tough combination. I think our first indication that things have changed at the L.O.B was several weeks ago when we at BSJ stood in line for nearly 1/2 hour waiting to get through one of two security check points—along with 300 students! Please be aware of these time constraints and plan accordingly. And PLEASE keep you personal items to a minimum (coats, bags, backpacks etc..) It helps move things along more smoothly. Upcoming Fundraisers Monday, March 8th Senator Seymor Lachman [D] Deputy Minority Whip - Albany, $350 Senator Joseph Robach [R] Chair, Civil Service - Albany, $350 Senator Martin Golden[R] Chair, Aging - Albany, $300 Assem. Jim Bacalles [R] Ranking Member Corp - Albany, $200 Assem. Michael Fitzpatrick [R] Ranking Member, Tourism - Albany, $200 Assem. Robin Schimminger [D] Chair, Economic Develop - Albany, $300 Assem. Mark Weprin [D] Chair, Ethics & Guidance - Albany, $350 Tuesday, March 9th Senator Randy Kuhl [R] Chair, Transportation - Albany, $500 Senator Thomas Libous [R] Chair, Mental Health - Albany, $500 Senator James Seward [R] Chair, Insurance Albany, - $400 Assem. Thomas Barraga [R] Ranking Member, Ways & Means - Albany, $250 Assem. Marc Butler [R] Chair—Minority Program - Albany, $225 Assem. Jeffery Dinowitz [D] Chair, Alcoholism - Albany, $300 Assem. Josphen Errigo [R] Ranking Member, Children & Families - Albany, $250 Assem. Audrey Pheffer [D] Chair, Consumer Affairs - Albany, $300 Assem. Ronald Tocci [D] Chair, Veteran's Affairs - Albany, $250 Wednesday, March 10th Assem. Alex Gromack [D] Chair, Racing & Wagering, New City, $250 Thursday, March 11th Assem. Catherine Nolan - Chair, Banks - Sunnyside, $150 If you have any questions about fundraisers, please call Sandy in the Albany office, 518 462-4620. Back to newsletter list

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