Wait! New York Senate may be able to vote on its budget after all

However, other obstacles, including a public university bill, might prevent a vote on the budget.

View full sizeFile photo / APPedro Espada Jr.

ALBANY, N.Y. — Sen. Pedro Espada has reversed course and will attend a special session in Albany after all.

He had refused earlier Tuesday to attend and promised to deny what could be the critical vote to finish the long overdue state budget until the Senate agreed to consider his bills. He wants to provide migrant farm workers overtime pay, paid vacations and other rights. That would face strong opposition from upstate senators.

But Buffalo Sen. William Stachowski says just because Espada returns, it doesn’t mean Stachowski will vote to close the budget that was due April 1. Stachowski has demanded consideration of a public university bill important to his district, but there’s still no deal. Democrats need all their 32 votes to pass a bill.

Republican Sen. John Bonacic (BON’-a-sik) says Espada is holding the Senate hostage.

» Read our earlier coverage