New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie isn’t the only member of the Legislature expressing frustration with the budget process.
Assemblymember Deborah Glick, chair of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation, told Capital Tonight that the imbalance of power in the budget process has “gummed up the works many, many times with different governors, not just this governor.”
Glick has announced her retirement from the Legislature at this end of this year.
“[The budget] is a fiscal document so when you start to add policy initiatives, which should come from the Legislature, then it creates a roadblock,” she said.
When it was pointed out that there were a couple of state Court of Appeals lawsuits that ruled in favor of the executive, Glick referenced the process by which Court of Appeals judges are appointed.
“When you sue the governor and the governor has appointed the Court of Appeals, it’s not like the umpire you choose,” she said.
In an emailed comment to Capital Tonight, a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul stated the following:
“The Governor has consistently used the budget process to deliver real wins for New Yorkers like historic middle class tax cuts, an enhanced child tax credit, free school meals, inflation refund checks, unprecedented investments in affordable housing, record funding for statewide public safety initiatives and more. The Governor looks forward to working with her partners in the Legislature once again to pass a state budget that makes New York safer and more affordable for working families.”
The Manhattan Institute’s EJ McMahon wrote about the budget process and the how the Legislature can respond.
Specific to this year’s budget, Glick told Capital Tonight that there’s been progress on the governor’s car insurance proposal, but not the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
“I think that many more issues have arisen on SEQRA than, it was apparent to me, but maybe not apparent to some out in the communities that may have at first been somewhat supportive,” she said. “There are issues around previously disturbed land that left a lot of room for mischief on the part of the developers.”
She was more optimistic regarding changes to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
“In the end, it might not be what I would have chosen, but I think the governor has moved away a bit from some of the dates that were too far down the road,” she said.
On Monday, the Senate and Assembly passed the seventh budget extender, which funds state operations including payroll and public health programs through April 30.
Lawmakers are expected to pass another extender on Wednesday. The budget is now 27 days late.