New York’s fiscal year has begun without a state budget due to a lack of agreement between Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers.
The deadline for the budget was April 1, with negotiations still ongoing into the weekend. Hochul and Democrats have placed less emphasis on meeting the deadline than previous Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The budget may include measures such as a higher minimum wage, ending newly constructed fossil fuel-powered buildings, and a tax hike on those making over $5 million per year, but the key issue is Hochul’s desire to change the state’s bail law, which has ended cash bail for many criminal charges.
Democrats have signaled they are willing to work with Governor Hochul, but many progressives in the state say most of the debate around bail changes is misplaced.
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