NY Budget Talks Collapse; Senate Walks Out

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — State budget negotiations have collapsed after members of the state Senate left Albany.

Republican Senate Leader John Flanagan said he will call his members back when and if there is a deal with Assembly Democrats and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The budget was due by Saturday. Lawmakers on Monday passed a two-month extension of the old budget to ensure the vital functions of government continue.

Just moments before the Senate left members of the Assembly announced they would stay in the hopes of striking a deal.

Lawmakers won't get paid until they pass a budget. The Legislature is scheduled to return to Albany in late April.

The breakdown in talks is a defeat for top lawmakers and Cuomo, who has long criticized late budgets as a sign of government dysfunction.