With Saturday's deadline for an on-time state budget looming, state leaders still have not struck a deal on a $150 billion state budget. State House Reporter Zack Fink has the latest from Albany.
After a meeting with legislative leaders in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office Thursday morning, there was a hasty exit from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
"There are no updates. There is nothing new," Heastie said.
A short time later, the two State Senate leaders emerged without providing much more detail.
"Everything is still outstanding; close, but still outstanding," said Sen. Jeff Klein, the Independent Democratic Conference leader.
On Wednesday, there seemed to be more optimism about a budget deal, but on Thursday leaders seemed far apart again, with new squabbles erupting over education aide.
"Contentious? I don't want to use that word," State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said. "I would just say everyone is trying to figure out how to properly fund education, and then by extension how do we pay for everything."
One agreement that appears to be locked down as part of the budget is a massive water quality bill.
"We are all having discussions about water quality, things like sewage treatment and things of that nature, so I view that as unbelievably positive because we are looking to do a multi-billion dollar investment." Flanagan said. "So that's good for every community across the state of New York."
The State Senate adjourned Thursday afternoon and its members left the capitol, meaning that elusive budget deal is unlikely to emerge before Friday — and that means voting could bleed into the weekend.