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Sen. George Borrello questioning the state Senate Finance Committee's chairwoman over budget extenders is feeling a bit like Groundhog Day for both senators.
Twice this week, Borrello invoked the 1993 film starring Bill Murray on the Senate floor as he questioned Sen. Liz Krueger, D-New York City and Finance Committee chairwoman, over budget extenders. The latest debate came Thursday over a $3.6 billion budget extender that was higher than previous emergency budget bills because of state Education Department programs that are due to receive funding.
"Has the sponsor seen the movie Groundhog Day?" Borrello asked Krueger.
"I believe I answered that after the last extender," Krueger said with a laugh. "Yes, I enjoy the movie Groundhog Day."
"Mr. President, this would have been much funnier if Senator Mayer was up there and I was wearing the same tie as Monday, but notwithstanding will the sponsor yield for another question?" Borrello asked.
From there the discussion became a bit more serious. Borrello was assured by Krueger there are no policy changes included in the budget extender, which funds state programs through Monday. Borrello asked if budget bills could be introduced before the end of the week so they could be voted on sometime after April 24 with a normal three-day review period rather than using a message of necessity from the governor and rushing a vote on a budget when rank-and-file legislators haven't had a chance to review the thousands of pages of documentation that comprise the state spending plan. Krueger wasn't optimistic.
"I would love that, sincerely. I think we're all getting tired of this. Unfortunately none of us in this room seem to control that. So I can say I live in hope of that story line, but I sincerely don't know. What I do know is, this extender will get us through Monday at noon so that Monday morning unless there are budget bills that could be possibly passed by Monday at noon which I don't brief is possible, we'll be doing another Groundhog Day scene with you and I, next Monday," Kruger said.
"Well, as much I love the movie, I don't wish to have it sequel made here on the floor of the Senate but thank you," Borrello said. "But, with the current status of this, we have all seen this in the paper and so forth. It would be more realistic to have an extender that reflects the current status of the negotiation or perhaps, rather than this four-day extenders. We're really keeping the thousands and thousands of employees and others on the edge of their seat because of the short-term extenders.
Krueger said budget bills weren't ready as of Thursday and the only people who know when they'll be ready are Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Krueger didn't dismiss the recommendation to Hochul of longer-term extensions to avoid the Groundhog Day scenario that has taken place through four budget extenders thus far. Borrello also asked if the Senate and Assembly could negotiate their own extenders and then place the onus on Hochul to veto the extenders if she disagrees with them. Krueger said the Senate Majority counsel has said the Senate can't write a budget extender because that power is vested in the governor's office.
Borrello said he would like to see the state budget handled more like a county or city budget that deals solely with spending and leaves policy issues like bail reform or housing policy for the regular legislative process. The Sunset Bay Republican said the extenders are creating unnecessary stress for too many people across the state with simple dollars and cents issues now tied to divisive policy proposals.
"The county government a budget is about the numbers," Borrello said. "It is about projection and what's needed to provide the services to the people that you represent. Instead, we use this as an opportunity to bury controversial topics into a bill that's supposed to be about funding, funding for some very critical things that people are hanging on the edge of their seat to know when the next time they are going to get the money that they so desperately need. We need to stop this, reform this should not be a partisan issue. We should take policy out of the budget process that way, you don't have to continue this Groundhog's Day game."