WXXI: On-Time Budget Depends on Governor's Relationship with Legislature (2008-01-24)

Governor Spitzer proposed his new budget plan, but he needs the legislature to agree to it before it can become law. Spitzer, who has had a rocky relationship with some lawmakers, is expected to face opposition on both political and philosophical grounds.

Spitzer, in two major speeches this month and in his budget presentation, has tried to be more conciliatory to the legislature. During his first year, he often criticized and clashed with lawmakers. Now, the governor says he's eager to work together with Senators and Assemblymembers to come to an agreement on the budget, and he says he won't try to force his views on them, saying he won't begin the year with "veto threats or lines in the sand".

Spitzer presented his budget to legislators in a special briefing first, before he informed the media. Afterward, he patiently took some questions from lawmakers, not interrupting when the queries turned into lengthy speeches.

But the governor may have a hard time winning over his chief opponent in the legislature, State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. The Senator has not forgiven the Governor for his aides' use of the state police to keep track of some of the travels of Bruno last spring. Early in his first year as governor, Spitzer made clear that he'd like to see the Senate be taken over by Democrats, a feat that can be achieved if just two or three seats change hands in November's election. Senator Bruno has often said he feels the governor is behaving in too "political" a manner, and that has led to an impasse between the two men for the past several months.

The Senator did not pull his punches when he offered his assessment of Spitzer's budget.

"It's kind of a disappointment, generally," Bruno said.

The Senator says the governor is proposing $1.7 billion dollars in new charges to taxpayers, through fee increases and closing loopholes, and that his priorities are misplaced.

When Spitzer was elected in late 2006, he often used the slogan "Day One, everything changes". The governor dropped that phrase as the year ground on. Bruno says he hopes the second year of Governor Spitzer brings a better experience than the Senator's first year with the governor.

"This is Day Two," said Bruno. "It will have to be better than Day One, that's for sure."

The governor also damaged his relations with many Democrats in the state Assembly, beginning when the Governor rebuked them publicly for choosing one of their own, Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli, to be State Comptroller. Spitzer has since made up with DiNapoli.

But the governor has maintained an even relationship with the Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver. Silver has publicly sided with the governor on many issues. The Speaker does part company with Spitzer, though, on some significant budget proposals. The governor wants to sell gambling rights at the Belmont horseracing track to install the slot- like machines known as Video Lottery Terminals. Silver has been against expanding gaming at the Belmont track. The Speaker has also expressed reservations about the governor's proposal to sell the state lottery to private investors.

"Working men and women have a hard enough time making ends meet," said Silver. "Their government should not be tempting them to play with their limited resources."

The Speaker may oppose the governor on a third item. Silver says he's wary of Spitzer's plan for the so-called Amazon tax. It would require that large on-line retailers who don't have actual stores in New York collect and pay sales tax on purchases.

The deadline to agree on the new budget is April 1st. Senator Bruno says he's willing to work with the governor in meetings open to the public, but he says it's ultimately up to Spitzer whether the budget gets passed on time.