ALBANY – Some New York state lawmakers slipped out of town Monday to watch the solar eclipse, even as negotiations over an already delayed budget drag on.
While members of Congress spent much of the day vacationing, heading back to their districts to observe celestial phenomena, about a dozen state senators were busy working on temporary spending measures to keep the government running. The vote was abandoned.
Albany officials say it’s “insane” to hold an unusual legislative session on Sunday to pass a funding extension so lawmakers don’t have to be in the nation’s capital during the eclipse. Ta.
The city of Albany was not within the scope of the total solar eclipse, but it comes as legislative leaders and Gov. Kathy Hochul continue to work on a state budget agreement that must be passed on April 1. , a total solar eclipse occurred.
“Certainly, we’re used to doing things in the dark around here. So, you know, we were able to get through it,” said state Sen. Tom O’Mara. (R-Chemung) quipped on the Senate floor Monday morning while debating the stopgap bill.
About 12 of the 63 senators omitted to vote on the eclipse, many representing districts in total orbit, where the moon covered the sun in total darkness for about four minutes.
State Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D-Monroe) was one of three Democrats to leave the party. Instead of legislating, Senator Rochester I posted a photo on X A photo of his puppy wearing “Cooney for Senate” branded eclipse glasses.
Parliament will hold a remote session to discuss the budget on Monday morning, with both chambers entering a planned recess before sunset to recognize the Eid al-Fitr Islamic holiday, which lasts until sunset Wednesday. He is scheduled to return to Albany on Tuesday.
The state funding expires Thursday, but the Legislature wants to wait until Friday to reconvene and pass another extension.
“Lawmakers can look up from their seats at the state Capitol and find some inspiration to get the budget done,” state Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kasser told the Post.
A lot of people have done that, at least in the space-gazing part.
Hundreds of lawmakers, including those who remained in town, along with staffers and politicians crowded outside Empire State Plaza, with eerie music playing from loudspeakers as the sky darkened.
Several lawmakers, led by Rep. Michael Solages (D-Nassau), even interrupted a performance of Bonnie Tyler’s 1983 hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
Former Gov. David Paterson, who led budget talks in 2010 that lasted until August, gave lawmakers some less time to work.
“I think Congress can be allowed to take another day off,” Patterson, 69, told the Post. “I hope this budget passes without any more once-in-a-lifetime events.”
Democrats added that if Congress could “pass a budget by the 15th or 22nd, we’d be fine,” and what New Yorkers don’t want is for negotiations to drag on for a month, taking longer to pass a budget. He pointed out that this is a repeat of last year. The state has until May to come up with a spending plan.
Patterson, who is now legally blind, vividly described past solar eclipses that he had been determined to observe for decades but had failed.
Retailers say MPs should focus on fighting crime, especially since Speaker Carl Heastie has refused to commit to tougher penalties for criminals who attack retail workers as part of his budget. He said that.
“They should see the light and deal with the darkness of crime,” said Francisco Marte, president of the New York City Bodega Small Business Association.
Nelson Eusebio, political director of the National Supermarket Association, said: “Their priority is to reduce jobs and increase crime. Maybe they will finally see the light in dealing with crime. ”
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile
