Lawmakers leave Albany after passing budget extender, expected back Tuesday

Plus, national politics enters the budget debate, and we've got your Thursday Reads.

Good afternoon — it’s Thursday, and Budget Day, but not really.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• Lawmakers left Albany after approving a budget extender

• The first budget bill of the year passed, but a deal isn’t imminent

• National politics enters the budget debate

• Thursday Reads

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? Yes.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Cloudy, low 30s. New York City: Rain likely, low 40s. (National Weather Service)

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An empty state Assembly. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

💵 First budget bill passed, along with an extender

💰 The first of 10 budget bills was passed by the state Legislature Thursday, but that doesn’t mean we’re close to a spending deal.

(That bill was the debt service bill, which we’ll talk about in a moment.)