“Two years of late budgets are showing us that one-party rule isn’t working for New Yorkers. After last year's late budget, those involved should have done more to start this negotiation process earlier to ensure meeting the budget deadline of April 1. The state is now in the position of having to pass a budget extender as a Band-Aid fix to ensure the government can continue to function and that employees are paid. Minority lawmakers went to Albany today, looking forward to a timely resolution that would have produced a budget that represents all New Yorkers. We were hopeful to get the first of the budget bills done today. Instead, taxpayer dollars are being used to pass the extender to keep the government running, and not voting on what matters, the budget. The taxpayers deserve better.”