The state budget is not done just yet, Assembly speaker says

The pencils aren't down, Heastie says, but a budget could still pass by Thursday.

Good afternoon — it’s Tuesday, and National Bean Counter Day.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• The budget’s not done just yet, Assembly speaker says

• The likely Green Party candidate for president visits the Capitol

• Tuesday Reads? Tuesday Reads.

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? Yes.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Clear, mid-30s New York City: Partly cloudy, low 50s (National Weather Service)

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🍴 Food trucks are back outside the Capitol

😋 Sure, the $237 billion budget is kind of important, but let’s get real: This is the news you’ve been waiting for.

The food trucks are back outside the Capitol for the season. See you there!

— Dan

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Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Tuesday. (Dan Clark/Times Union)

💵 State budget isn’t done just yet, Assembly speaker says, but vote still expected this week

💰 After Gov. Kathy HOCHUL on Monday announced a “conceptual framework” agreement with the Legislature on this year’s state budget, and just about everyone had something to say.

The first text messages I received after her announcement were from lawmakers, who said they felt blindsided by Hochul.

• Democrats in both the Senate and Assembly said they didn’t know Hochul was going to announce an agreement.

• They also said they felt they weren’t at the point of approving a deal to announce.

But Assembly Speaker Carl HEASTIE told reporters Tuesday afternoon how her description of budget talks matched up with where things stood.