CapCon: Mothership has landed, parents of Israeli-American hostage visit Albany

Plus, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie responds to reports that he's dating a lobbyist, and an update on where REBNY and unions stand on a wage deal.

Good afternoon — it’s Monday, and Sloppy Joe Day.

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON: The “mothership” has landed, and legislative leaders give us an update on budget talks; Assembly speaker responds to reports that he’s dating a lobbyist; parents of an Israeli-American hostage from Long Island visit Albany; a status update on wage talks between REBNY and unions; This Week in New York History

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? Yes.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Rain or snow, around 30. New York City: Partly cloudy, mid-30s (National Weather Service)

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After today’s “mothership” (Will Waldron/Times Union)

🛸 The mothership has landed ahead of the looming budget deadline

👽 After approving their one-house budget proposals last week, legislative leaders arrived at this year’s “mothership” optimistic about an on-time state budget.

If you’re an Albany veteran, you probably already know about the mothership. But if you’re not, don’t get your hopes up — this meeting is not as thrilling as it sounds.

The annual mothership is a public meeting between the majority and minority legislative leaders of both the state Senate and Assembly. 

• They’re joined by a handful of lawmakers who either serve in leadership positions, or are connected to the budget in some way.

After a brief introduction, the legislative leaders — Assembly Speaker Carl HEASTIE and Senate Majority Leader Andrea STEWART-COUSINS — read a series of prepared remarks about their budget priorities.

• Those are essentially a recap of what was in their one-house budgets last week, so I won’t repeat that here.

• The budget is due April 1, but they’re trying to get a deal by March 28.

The more interesting part is hearing what they have to say after the mothership, when reporters rush legislative leaders with questions.

I’m going to transcribe their answers to each of them to give you the full picture.

Q: Can you comment on where the budget is, where it’s going to go in the next two weeks?

• ASC: “We’re hopeful. We are always trying to make sure we have a fiscally responsible, balanced, on-time budget. So we are going to be working toward that, obviously.”