$131 Billion State Budget Passes

The massive $131 billion NY State budget was finally passed yesterday. While the Assembly—with its big Democratic majority— passed it before the deadline on Tuesday night, before the Wednesday deadline, the Daily News reports, "Frustrated Senate Republicans, angry at being shut out of the process, debated most bills for hours," which extended the process (the Senate Democrats have a 32-30 majority). According to the NY Times, the Republican lawmakers called the budget "disastrous,” “sheer lunacy” and “laden with pork and patronage," and even Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith admitted the secretive process was problematic, "We have to do better." In spite of Governor Paterson's earlier promises to cut spending, this budget is 9% higher (including federal stimulus money); Paterson was positive, "If the legislature can maintain this type of discipline over the next few years, then we can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel," but in the Wall Street Journal, E.J. Mahon says that light is "probably an oncoming train." Well, at least Rush Limbaugh is moving, right?