Assemblymember Gary Pretlow, chair of his House’s finance committee, said Hochul’s budget announcement was so premature, he likened it to an intractable romantic partner demanding their unwilling partner marry them because wedding invitations were already mailed.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that a tentative $254 billion state budget deal was reached on Monday night, but a state lawmaker from Esopus said on Tuesday that “negotiations are

Gov. Hochul and Democratic legislative leaders announced a handshake agreement on a new budget for the 2026 fiscal year on Monday night.The $254 billion deal, which already was 28 days