Heastie wants budget power imbalance fix, says reporters are 'silent'

And Hochul bans state employees from insider trading on prediction markets.

Good afternoon — It’s Wednesday and Earth Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• Democrats in the state Legislature passed another budget extender Wednesday and are expected to do the same early next week. Here’s where talks stand.

• Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie says he continues to be frustrated by the imbalance of power in state budget talks and blamed reporters.

• Hochul issued an executive order Wednesday banning state employees from insider trading on prediction markets.

• Bills on the Move: Both chambers passed bills to regulate food additives, create rebates for electric lawn equipment, restrict state contracts and amend vaccine guidance this week.

• New Bills of Note: This legislation would require more transparency during utility rate settlement discussions and expand the state’s sex trafficking statutes.

Names in today’s CapCon: Carl E. Heastie, Kathy Hochul, Deborah Glick, Michael Gianaris, Zohran Mamdani, Edward P. Ra, Brian Kavanagh, Anna Kelles, Amy Paulin, Toby Ann Stavisky, Chris Ryan, Chris Eachus, Liz Krueger, Steven Otis, Leroy Comrie, Zellnor Myrie

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Today’s Capitol Confidential is sponsored by VNS Health

Legislators: New York’s MLTC rate system is underfunding plans caring for residents with the most complex care needs — including older adults and people living with disabilities who rely on support at home — and the state must act now. Without intervention this year, impact will deepen. Plans serving high-acuity populations — including VNS Health, the state’s only statewide 5-star MLTC plan — are already operating at the limits of what the system can support. Learn more.

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The State Senate (Will Waldron/Times Union)

💰 Lawmakers head home after passing sixth budget extender as talks drag

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democrats in the state Legislature are making progress on the major policy issues holding up the state budget but have yet to strike a deal on any of them.

There was no resolution in closed-door discussions in either chamber this week around Hochul’s proposed changes to the Climate Act, according to top Democrats in the state Legislature Thursday.