NYS Budget Voting Delayed
Partisan squabbling and a sick senator have stalled today's voting on the 2009 New York State budget.
Senators were told voting would begin at 9:30 this morning, but Republicans refused to take their seats after complaining that hadn't gotten some key fiscal information, including district-by-district school aid numbers.
But by early afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos said a new delay came up: Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson – a Democrat – was in the hospital getting an EKG.
Without Thompson Democrats didn't have the 32 votes necessary to approve any of the budget bills. Hassell-Thompson is expected to return to the senate floor this evening.
Senators were told voting would begin at 9:30 this morning, but Republicans refused to take their seats after complaining that hadn't gotten some key fiscal information, including district-by-district school aid numbers.
But by early afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos said a new delay came up: Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson – a Democrat – was in the hospital getting an EKG.
Without Thompson Democrats didn't have the 32 votes necessary to approve any of the budget bills. Hassell-Thompson is expected to return to the senate floor this evening.
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