Smith Questions MTA's March 25th Deadline
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The state's top Senate Democrat is questioning whether the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's deadline for Albany to come up with a rescue plan is a real deadline.
A spokesman for State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says the MTA's March 25th deadline for legislative action may be artificial, but lawmakers still hope to meet it.
Smith had previously questioned whether the MTA was exaggerating its budget woes.
Governor David Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are backing a plan to put some sort of tolls on the East River and Harlem River bridges and implement a payroll tax.
The MTA says if the deadline for aid is not met, it will have to go forward with drastic fare hikes and service cuts.