When Monday's solar eclipse peaked in New York, state lawmakers in Albany stood together and lifted their voices in song — marking a rare moment of levity amid ongoing budget negotiations as the multi-billion-dollar spending plan remains unfinished more than a week past the deadline.

Lawmakers consumed by budget talks briefly left the state Capitol at around 3 p.m. Monday to join hundreds of people in the Empire State Plaza to view the historic solar eclipse. The sky turned completely dark in parts of upstate along the 124-mile path of totality, including Western New York and the Adirondacks, which peaked just before 3:30 p.m.

"It hasn't slowed anything down," Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris said of the eclipse impact on negotiations. "The negotiations have been ongoing."

Legislative leaders met with Gov. Kathy Hochul about the latest budget discussions over the weekend and are expected to meet Tuesday.

When Albany's partial eclipse reached its peak at 96% totality, lawmakers swayed and sang the chorus of the 1980s No. 1 hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart." 

Hochul signed a third budget extender Monday to ensure thousands of state workers are paid on time as negotiations continue.

State senators returned passed the extender Monday. 

"You could probably hammer out a budget right here on the Capitol plaza given the number of important legislators and representatives in the governor's office," Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said minutes before the peak.

Assembly members returned to Albany on Sunday to pass the extender, which funds the government through Thursday, to allow members to travel for the eclipse, even though Monday marked a regularly scheduled day of legislative business. Several returned to their districts. 

The eclipse added an additional scheduling conflict to a challenging season with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr this week and Passover in the third week of April.

Assembly members said they conferenced the budget for three hours Monday and the eclipse did not cause them to miss budget work. A handful of budget officials Monday said the Assembly's decision stalled talks in a critical week, but Democratic lawmakers defended the decision.

"No one is complaining," Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson said. "They know that the work is getting done. They know that the staff is still working and leadership is working and we're working, also."

Lawmakers said conversations stayed friendly and void of the budget during the eclipse.

"This is, for some people, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see something of this magnitude," said Hoylman-Sigal, a Manhattan Democrat. "...It's always good to try to get it as close to April 1 as possible, but we pass extenders... and government continues to function. We'll hammer out a budget sooner rather than later. I'm confident we'll get it done in due course." 

The details of a comprehensive housing package and proposed cuts to Medicaid continue to be the largest sticking points holding up an agreement.

Senate Housing Committee chair Brian Kavanagh said about 50 proposals remain on the negotiating table to finalize a housing package that addresses homelessness, evictions and the lack of adequate affordable housing supply across the state. Kavanagh would not give specifics about the building incentives, tax programs, rental assistance and tenant protection proposals stumping leaders.

"You put them all together, it's obviously a very complicated mix, but I think we are making progress," Kavanagh said during the eclipse. "I think we will get to the point where have a package that will satisfy a lot of people and is really a step forward."

Hochul viewed the total solar eclipse in Niagara Falls.

"For me, as the leader of the state, this is a great opportunity to promote our state from every corner – From New York City, to Buffalo to Plattsburgh," the governor said.

Some lawmakers, especially Republicans, blasted Democrats for leaving Albany to see the eclipse with the budget over a week late.

Sen. Jim Tedisco, who has served in the Legislature for more than 40 years, said constituents should be outraged that lawmakers treated the eclipse like a holilday when they are expected to pass a timely budget.

"This is just shameful on their behalf," Tedisco said Monday. "There is no excuse whatsoever — they could just look out the window, or we could take 10 minutes to go out there.

The senator, of Ballston Lake, viewed the eclipse in his district after legislative session had concluded for the day.

But the state budget would have continued its delay through this week with or without an eclipse. And many leaders remarked on the irony of the timing of the cosmic phenomenon as state leaders finalize the budget largely behind closed doors — keeping all New Yorkers in a state of darkness.

"Sadly for New Yorkers, the budget's late again," NYPIRG Executive Director Blair Horner said. "It just shows though, whoever dreamt up the state's fiscal year starting on April 1 had a wry sense of humor."