New York state is reportedly facing the possibility of its first-ever state government shutdown over the lack of a budget deal between Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo and state lawmakers.
The state's fiscal year started Saturday, but Cuomo gave the state Legislature until the end of the weekend to make a deal – or he'll push an emergency bill to extend last year’s budget through May 21, the New York Daily News reported.
According to the News, state Senate Republicans held a closed-door session Saturday during which the possibility was raised to reject the extender, shutting down the government.
"It’s definitely being discussed as an option," one unnamed source told the News.
Another unnamed Senate Republican told the News "no one’s going to just allow [Cuomo] to do a budget on his own."
The News reported the shutdown could be politically bruising for Cuomo, who is believed to be mulling a 2020 presidential run.
"It depends on the length" of the close-down, Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group, told the News. "But when the way you define bringing order to chaos is you get on time budgets and then they don’t happen, it hurts."
The state's Senate and Assembly were expected to return Sunday afternoon to resume talks, the News reported.
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