Borrello Calls Out NY’s Budget Process As Negotiations Press On

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ALBANY – Negotiations on New York’s overdue budget continued behind closed doors Monday; a process State Senator George Borrello is calling out.

Borrello, speaking with WNY News Now, believes lawmakers shouldn’t be discussing policy in the budget, but rather, focus on pure financials for the state.

Changes to the state’s bail system, child care subsidies and other policies are being discussed by state leaders as part of the roughly $216 billion budget.

For Borrello all eyes are on reforming bail reform, a point he has long advocated for.

“The biggest sticking point is bail reform, and it has nothing to do with the budget this is something that should be done outside of the budget, but Kathy Hochul knows that they will never be able to get anything changed if they actually had to discuss and debate out in the open in front of the public,” explained Borrello.

Since Friday’s deadline to pass the budget, lawmakers approved a stopgap bill to keep the government funded while talks continue.

Leaders in the Democratic Caucus are cautiously optimistic that bills for the spending plan could be considered by the Legislature by Thursday.