NY Legislature passes state budget

The New York Senate and Assembly have passeda $121.7 billion budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The budget, which was due April 1, increases spending 4.9percent and includes $1.1 billion in capital projects statewide. The budget deal also includes $170 million in pork-barrelspending for lawmakers to direct to organizations and programs backin their home districts this election year. It also includes ahistoric $1.75 billion increase in school aid.