Updated 04/20/2010 09:19 AM
The budget battle continues
There's still no budget agreement in place as lawmakers pass a third round of emergency extender bills. Our Erin Billups has the latest from the Capitol as the state budget is now three weeks late.
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ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Governor, the Senate and the Assembly each have their ideas about how to balance the state's budget, but even two weeks and counting past the budget deadline the news is the same: No consensus, no deal.
"The Governor, he's engaged. We've been talking to him. But obviously we are far apart with him," said Senate President Pro Temp Malcolm Smith.
With the tax season behind us, lawmakers are starting to get a clearer revenue picture and it looks like there won't be any major surplus or added deficit.
"So far, it does not appear to be any worse and it does not appear to be any better," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
To keep government running in the absence of an enacted budget, lawmakers passed a third round of emergency extender bills Monday. But the state can't go on like this forever. Lawmakers still must reach a deal to close the $9.2 billion deficit.
"The issues are clearly education aide and property tax relief," Silver said.
"We're working on revenue enhancers that we're all trying to agree upon," Smith said.
One senator has released his plan to raise around $280 million for the state's infrastructure through a sales tax on new car purchases and by raising the mortgage recording tax.
"It's something that's not going to be recurring and it's hopefully something that the citizens will see will, one help the infrastructure and transportation system," said Senator Martin Dilan.
But it's still a new tax at a time when New Yorkers have had enough. The options though for lawmakers are few.
"We also have to put everything on the table so that we can try and close this gap, we're exploring all options but clearly we're not looking to tax anybody, anymore," Smith said.
One lawmaker says the delay is all part of the budget waiting game, whichever side holds out the longest wins. But the question is, will the taxpayer?