The state budget due Saturday will be late, as legislative leaders and Gov. Kathy Hochul fail to reach an agreement on spending plan.

The big hold up continues to be changes to bail reform.

By late Friday, the halls of the state Capitol were empty as lawmakers headed home for the weekend after very little progress was made during state budget negotiations.

Hochul and the two legislative leaders are expected to hold talks through the weekend, but the biggest impediment is Hochul’s plan to change the least restrictive standard for judges in the state’s bail reform law.

What You Need To Know

  • State lawmakers headed home after progressive on state budget talks hit a roadblock

  • State leaders will remain in Albany through the weekend to continue budget negotiations

  • The big hold up is changes the state’s controversial bail reform law

“I am very clear on what I am looking for. I am looking to restore people’s confidence in our system,” Hochul told reporters at the state Capitol. “Part of that has to do with fixing some of the bail laws that I believe don’t give the judges the clarity that they need to have. There is an inconsistency in our law now.”

Republicans in both houses blasted Democrats for failing to reach a budget deal by the deadline.

They pointed to a time not so long ago when Republicans were in charge of the Senate and passed on time budgets working with a Democrat controlled Assembly and a Democratic governor.

Now, Democrats control every facet of state government.

“Here we have three Dems. They can’t come to an agreement,” said Republican Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay. “And the reason they can’t come to an agreement is because the left of the Democratic party has gone so extreme that they can’t even imagine what we see is some non-partisan common sense changes.”

Preceding this year’s budget negotiations was an ugly, intra-party fight between Senate Democrats and Hochul over the governor’s pick for chief judge. Senate Democrats ultimately voted down that nominee, Hector LaSalle.

“Even though it’s not directly related to the budget, I’ve always said a lot of the ability to negotiate these deals, and this is true for all of us, is based on relationships and the ability to, good faith between the parties,” said Republican Senate Minority Leader Robb Ortt. “And I believe the chief judge process, and there is enough blame to go around there as far as how that was handled, but I think that absolutely damaged the relationship going into the budget.”

Lawmakers are expected back in Albany on Monday, where they are accepted to vote in an extender to keep the government running and avoid a shutdown.