An emergency budget extender bill passed by just a few votes in the Senate. Erin Billups followed the developments at the Capitol all day Monday and has the details of the vote.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- We're now two-and-a-half months past the budget deadline but a crisis have been averted at the state Capitol, at least for now. A majority of Senators approved Governor Paterson's latest emergency extender bills Monday to avoid a complete government shutdown -- at least for this week.

It took the help of three Republicans to pass the extender 34-to-27. Despite his threat last week to vote against the extender, Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. voted yes, while Democrat Ruben Diaz, Sr. made good on his promise to vote no. Republicans Hugh Farley, Roy McDonald and Charles Fuschillo, Jr. of Long Island all voted in favor of it.

Here's what Senator Farley had to say about his vote.

"This particular extender has no taxes and fees in it, which makes it a little bit better for me to vote for it. But I'll tell you it's got a lot of negatives. And it's one of the reasons that I'm gravely concerned about it. But I'll tell you one thing, don't count on me to vote on any more extenders. This time, it's time to pass a budget. We've got to get this act together. The minority, the Republicans in both houses have been totally excluded from the process, I think it's outrageous. But I will vote aye, reluctantly."

Lawmakers say they want to turn their focus to closing the state's $9 billion budget gap.

The last day of the session in Albany is Monday.
State comptroller Tom DiNapoli says he won't let the state's pension fund fall victim to the state's fiscal woes. As lawmakers work on a budget agreement, DiNapoli says any reports indicating that money could be taken from the pension fund in order to balance the budget are false.

Over the weekend, legislative leaders reached a tentative deal with Governor Paterson to allow the state and municipalities to borrow from the pension fund to pay pension costs. DiNapoli released a statement saying, "I will protect the fund from any raids under any circumstances."

The Pew Report, released earlier this year, indicated that New York has one of the better managed funds in the country.