CapCon: One-house budgets done, DEC on 'CO2 fracking'

Plus, how big tech companies are targeting social media legislation and a look at why adultery is still a crime in New York.

Good afternoon — it’s Thursday, and Potato Chip Day.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON: One-house budgets are done; a look into big tech’s efforts to tank social media bills; what the DEC says about so-called “CO2” fracking; why adultery is still a crime in New York; Thursday Reads

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? No.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Rain likely, mid-40s New York City: Clouds, then rain likely, low 50s. (National Weather Service)

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Assemblyman Ed Ra (right) (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

💵 Assembly, Senate pass one-house budgets

💰 Both the state Senate and Assembly approved resolutions endorsing their respective preferred spending plans Thursday, moving the budget process to a new phase.

That gave Republicans, who hold the minority in both chambers, an opportunity to challenge Democrats in public about their plans for proposed spending.

• It’s a rare time in which Republicans can take the spotlight in Albany, by picking away at their opponents’ priorities.

The one-house budget plans are in contrast to what Hochul proposed in January, at least in the amount of spending. The chambers usually propose more, setting goalposts for negotiations. 

• Hochul proposed a state budget that allocates $232.7 billion for the next fiscal year. That’s a combination of state spending and money from the federal government.

• The Assembly is proposing a $245.8 billion budget, while the Senate pitched a $246.2 billion plan.

Democrats in the Legislature would seek to fund that level of spending through federal programs and a tax hike for high-income earners and corporations.

• On Medicaid, for example, Senate Finance Chair Liz KRUEGER told me this week that their plan would use a federal waiver to receive $4 billion for the program. 

Gov. Kathy HOCHUL has said an increase on income taxes is a nonstarter for her in this year’s budget, and has shown no signs of budging. 

🔴 Republicans are aligned with Hochul on that point, and brought it to the floor of both chambers during Thursday’s debate.