By Eileen Buckley
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Buffalo, NY – State Assembly Democrats unveiled their budget proposal in Albany Wednesday. It calls for $4.3 billion in cuts to balance state spending while restoring some of Governor David Paterson's cuts to school aid.
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Assembly Speaker Sheldon says the Assembly budget rejects $1 billion in proposed taxes and fees.
The Assembly budget would also restore $600 million of the proposed $1.4 billion in cuts to public schools.
The Assembly Democrats say their budget proposal protects the most vulnerable New Yorkers and working families.
But this plan also proposes borrowing about $2 billion to close the state's budget deficit, which is more than $9 billion.
The state budget is due by April 1st, but there is no agreement between the Governor, Assembly and Senate. Governor Paterson is issuing emergency spending bills to keep state government running through April 14th.