State budget deal not expected this week, top lawmakers say, fourth extender likely

Plus, it was Animal Advocacy Day and we've got This Week in New York History.

Good afternoon — it’s Monday, and Empanada Day.

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• A total eclipse of New York 🌚

• State budget deal not expected this week, top lawmakers say

• What animal advocates want in the budget

• This Week in New York History

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? Yes.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Mostly cloudy, mid-40s. New York City: Mostly cloudy, low 50s (National Weather Service)

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Sen. Jamaal Bailey (left) and hundreds of onlookers at the Empire State Plaza (Dan Clark/Times Union)

🌞 It was eclipse day Monday!

🌚 Monday’s eclipse overshadowed any other news from the day, but we’ve still got you covered.

I wanted to fill today’s newsletter with puns about the eclipse, but I couldn’t think of more than three.

But I hope you had a free minute to check it out.

• There won’t be another total solar eclipse in New York until 2079, according to the state Education Department.

Western New York, which was supposed to have some of the best views, had an unfortunately cloudy day. 

• That didn’t stop Gov. Kathy HOCHUL from heading to Niagara Falls to watch the event.

And the Times Union covered the eclipse with live updates Monday.

Check out that coverage here. (Free for CapCon subscribers)

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The Senate emptied out after session Monday. (Dan Clark/Times Union)

💰 State budget deal not likely this week, lawmakers say

💵 It “might be tough” to reach a state budget deal this week, and another extender is “very likely,” top senators said Monday.

After a few days away from the state Capitol, members of the state Senate were back in Albany Monday to approve another budget extender.

• This extender will keep workers paid through Thursday.

• They’ll need to pass another one Thursday if there’s not a budget deal by then.

Members of the Assembly were in Albany Sunday to approve the extender. They came back a day early so they could take Monday off and watch the eclipse from home.

• Lawmakers were hoping to return to the Capitol with a budget deal in sight, but that wasn’t the case Monday. 

Instead, a deal may be off the table for this week, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike GIANARIS said Monday.