Assembly Democrats kicked off the week by passing a bill to strengthen rent regulations in New York City. The bill is unlikely to pass the Senate, but, as Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman explains, the measure is expected to be the beginning of a balancing act legislative leaders and the Governor will perform over the next few months of session as they work to pass issues on each party's wish list.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- By a broad margin, the Assembly approved an expansion of rent regulations for New York City on Monday, reviving talk that final passage of a property tax cap would be tied to extending rent control.

"Some people say you shouldn't tie things together. How do you do it then?" asked Assemblyman Vito Lopez.

"There's no linkage per se. But those who would argue we need rent regulations, we need the property tax cap, they're both about keeping in their homes," Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said.

The Republican-led Senate approved Governor Andrew Cuomo's two percent cap months ago. But it is doubtful the measure in its current form would pass in the Assembly. Though, Silver did say a tax cap would be voted on this year.

"I think that there will be an agreed upon bill on property tax cap, at least agreed upon with the governor as there is in terms of rent control regulations," said Silver.

Business groups and Republican lawmakers are opposed to specifically linking rent regulations with a property tax cap, fearing the cap would be weakened in negotiations.

"I don't think, and I'll say this again, I know the speaker has said time and time again that they're related or they're linked together. I don't think they're linked at all," said Tom Libous, Deputy Senate Majority Leader.

Other legislators agree, saying that the two issues should be kept separate in negotiations.

"I don't believe so. For my constituents in Westchester County we need the tax cap, for my constituents in Bronx County, we need the rent control," Senator Jeff Klein said.

New Yorkers live under one of the highest property tax burdens in the state. Though rent control laws expire June 15, there's no due date for a tax cap bill.