ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The New York State Capitol's second floor is bustling as the governor works on his budget proposal due in January.
The legislative session may be a season away, but lobbyists are already stalking the halls and pitching their funding priorities to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has broad power over the state's $175.5 billion spending plan.
One big issue this year will be Medicaid spending. New York had delayed paying a $1.7 billion bill until fiscal year 2020 to avoid breaking a spending cap.
Other looming issues include possibly legalizing recreational marijuana sales to adults, which Cuomo has called a priority for the next session.
Albany will also see a push to tax the wealthy from activists and newly elected lawmakers on the left who ran on tackling economic inequality.
