NY leaders talk budget as deadline nears

New York legislative leaders and Gov. David Paterson met privately in the governor's mansion over the state budget. But with a dozen days left in the fiscal year, they can't even agree on how long the meeting was.

All sides agree, however, there were no deals struck over the salmon luncheon.

The 2009-10 budget is due April 1 and what is expected to be a $120 billion spending plan will include a deficit of more than $14 billion.

Senate Republican Minority Leader Dean Skelos says he expects the budget to increase spending by 7 percent to 8 percent despite Paterson's insistence that tough times demand an end to Albany's overspending and overtaxing.

Spokesmen for Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith say such estimates are premature.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)