ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State lawmakers passed their fifth budget extender Monday as negotiations remain stalled more than three weeks past the April 1 deadline, with disagreements over auto insurance reform, immigration policy and environmental laws holding up a final deal.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lawmakers expected to extend state budget deadline again
Assemblymember Josh Jensen said negotiations have hit a standstill. The budget is now 20 days overdue.
“It’s less of a rollout and more of a slow burn,” Jensen said. “There’s really no agreement, no momentum.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she won’t back down from her push to lower auto insurance rates, which she called some of the highest in America. She pointed to the financial strain on local governments, including Erie County and the City of Buffalo, which face increased costs for emergency vehicles, senior vans and snowplows.
“I am not walking back from my commitment to do whatever I can in my power with the Legislature and the people of New York who want to have relief from some of the highest auto insurance premiums in America,” Hochul said.
The governor also renewed her call for immigration reform, which she first proposed in January. She said her plan would allow families to seek legal redress when federal agents overstep, citing the case of Shah Alam, who died after being abandoned by federal caregivers. Hochul met with Alam’s widow and two of his sons.
“I want justice for him, and part of my immigration plan would at least allow there to be a right to address grievances when federal agents have gone out of control and overstepped the bounds,” Hochul said.
Jensen said the immigration proposal would limit when local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration authorities like ICE and Border Patrol. He raised concerns about restricting interagency cooperation.
“Certainly, when we look at the role that law enforcement plays, they need to be able to respond to any situation they encounter and vice versa,” Jensen said.
State Sen. Jeremy Cooney said the immigration proposal aims to protect workers who are paying taxes and contributing to their communities. He said various versions of legislation called New York for All are being discussed in budget negotiations.
“If we can put protections for New Yorkers that are trying to follow the rules, that are just trying to keep on doing what they’re doing in their community, we want to make sure that they have those protections from New York State,” Cooney said.
Other sticking points include proposed changes to environmental laws and the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Hochul said a judge is insisting the state follow current law despite changed circumstances since the goals were set in 2019.
The budget also includes $4.5 billion for child care, reforms to laws related to illegal gun manufacturing and additional social media protections for children.
Budget extenders keep the government operating and ensure state workers continue to get paid while negotiations continue. Jensen said he expects lawmakers to pass another extender Wednesday.
The delayed budget creates uncertainty for school districts, which need to know state funding levels before proposing their own budgets to voters in May. Cooney said the Senate doubled the governor’s proposed funding for public education in its one-house budget.
“Let’s make sure that we can give our school district as much notice as possible,” Cooney said.
Last year, the state budget was five weeks late.
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