State GOP seeks more say on capital spending

Senate Republicans are pushing back at Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, seeking greater say over capital spending and economic development, as the April 1 deadline to pass a new state budget nears.

"We want more legislative input," said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre). "I think it's a great idea to have the regional economic groups, but we want more input into how those projects occur."

Cuomo last year revived regional economic development councils to grant hundreds of millions of dollars to local projects through a competitive process overseen by Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy and appointees. With great fanfare, Cuomo awarded the winning projects in December, leaving legislators to grouse that they were no longer seen as bringing home money to their districts.

Skelos said lawmakers want a voice on the boards that decide which projects get funded and also want input on megaprojects funded in legislators' districts.

The Senate did not include funding for the councils in its one-house budget bill. Nor has the Senate funded parts of another Cuomo budget proposal, called New York Works, which would take on bridge and road work, park renovations, water treatment facilities, energy projects, flood control and higher education projects. A big piece that the Senate omitted from its budget is $770 million for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Cuomo's office did not respond to requests for comment.

The Assembly has not objected to the New York Works program. Majority Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) wouldn't comment Wednesday on specific budget negotiations. "I think we'll resolve this budget hopefully by next week and we'll have the appropriate balance on all issues," Silver said. "Nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to."

The governor has touted New York Works as a $15 billion program, though it's really a mix of old and new programs grouped together and funded through borrowing, federal funds and yet-to-be-determined sources of private equity. Cuomo also has said he would create an infrastructure bank to help fund projects, but his office has offered few details of how it would work.

"There has to be some legislative input in regards to where the projects go and to what the projects are," said Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse), who chairs the Senate finance committee. "I don't think it's prudent for a legislature to give a black check to anyone for all capital projects."

Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick), who chairs the Senate transportation committee, said meetings with the administration and Assembly over transportation projects have been ongoing.

"What we had asked for, and we're starting to get, is the details," Fuschillo said. "We just have been requesting greater details to make an informed decision about the governor's budget. It's coming in a little slow now."

Political pollster Steven Greenberg said part of the pushback is the "natural tug of war that goes on around close of a budget." But the November elections have added pressure on lawmakers to show voters that they have produced results, he said.

"They want to have accomplishments that they can go to their constituents with and say this is why I'm in Albany and this is why you should send me back to Albany," Greenberg said.