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Two members of the WNY delegation discuss late state budget

State Assembly woman Jane Corwin
WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley
State Assembly woman Jane Corwin

By Eileen Buckley

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-899789.mp3

Buffalo, NY – The budget showdown continues in Albany. The state spendng plan is more than a month late. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley talked with two members of the Western New York delegation from both sides of the isle.

Click the audio player above to hear Eileen Buckley's full story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.

Republican state assembly woman Jane Corwin of Clarence voiced her disgust over the failure to reach agreement on a new state spending plan.

Corwin believes the Assembly leadership is not keeping its own members of the majority informed in the process.

"Honestly it's killing me. It's very, very hard to go there every day, and to watch the leadership. I don't even think they are meeting with each other," said Corwin

Corwin says until that happens they will continue to have bad policies. She says this budget process is very frustrating. Democratic State Senator Antoine Thompson of Buffalo says it remains a very painful budget process.

"Most of us, myself included, really would have like to see this process closed down many week's ago," said Thompson.

But Thompson is predicating this could be the week they finally resolve the budget.

Lawmakers returned to Albany Monday. The Governor has proposed that they remain in session five days a week instead of three until they complete their vote on a new budget.

Lawmakers must close a $9.2 billion deficit. Senator Thompson believes lawmakers are making their own sacrifices. Thompson chimed in that every day the state is without a budget, members of the Legislature are not being paid.