The Budget Crunching Villains

Lawmakers in the city and Albany are having more influence than normal during budget negotiations. Funny how peace has a way of breaking out when the mayor and the governor aren't worrying about the next election.

A press release from the City Council yesterday was a metaphor for the warm relations between Speaker Christine Quinn and her presumptive adversary, Mayor Bloomberg. The east and west sides of City Hall are teaming up to crack down on the influence of lobbyists.

This announcement comes just a day after Ms. Quinn joined the mayor in the Blue Room to unveil plans for 1,200 more beat cops. The mayor has complete control over the NYPD, and in a typical year a mayor would disclose such a popular concept by himself - and then watch City Council members down the hall feel pressure to support the idea. But Mr. Bloomberg let Ms. Quinn share the spotlight.

Ms. Quinn also joined the mayor for announcements about child safety, following the January murder of Nixzmary Brown that revealed fatal flaws at the Administration for Children's Services, and more recently at an event demanding more education money from state lawmakers. Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, who's in charge of government affairs, has an obvious hand in this intramural cuddling.

Ms. Quinn's predecessor as council speaker, Gifford Miller, did spend time at the mayor's side. But the relationship was perpetually and inevitably strained because he wanted Mr. Bloomberg's job. In retrospect, the former speaker and the mayor got along remarkably well given that natural tension.

Ms. Quinn and Mr. Bloomberg are on no such collision course. Term limits will force both of them into new jobs in four years. While Ms. Quinn will surely have plenty of job opportunities, and may even run for another office, there's no chance to she'll be a professional threat to Emeritus Mayor Bloomberg - who's planning to open a phianthropic foundation and give away billions of dollars. Even if Ms. Quinn wins Powerball she can't possibly compete against that.

Ms. Quinn is also wise to piggyback on the mayor's extraordinary, and extraordinarily surprising, approval numbers. He even beat uber-popular Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly in the latest poll, which put the mayor above the 70% mark. More people like Mr. Bloomberg than have even heard of Ms Quinn. Challenging him wouldn't get her very far.

In Albany, poll numbers have less significance than bowel obstructions this budget season. Governor Pataki has spent most of the negotiating period recovering from a burst appendix that sidelined him until this week. But even if the governor were in perfect health, Albany insiders say an ontime budget has been a good bet.

To me, that's a surprise. There's plenty of money to go around in Albany this year - and usually flush years bring the biggest delays as the players fight about how to spend the extra cash. Tight years, on the other hand, leave less room for meddling.

With just eight days until the April 1 budget deadline, a second-straight on-time budget seems likely - following 20 late budgets.

This is the last dance for the men who run Albany, who all took power in 1995 after Governor Pataki's come-from-behind victory. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno have perfected their moves alongside the governor. They may still be there next year, but they'll have a new partner in the top job.

None of them is looking for a big fight. Governor Pataki's presidential aspirations can only gain from another on-time budget. Mr. Bruno doesn't want to do anything that might jeopardize his small Republican majority. And Mr. Silver has no reason not to go along with them if he keeps winning what he wants.

So far, the speaker is doing pretty well this year. He seems to have convinced Mr. Pataki to back off plans for continuing the sales tax on clothes under $110.Mr.Pataki also appears willing to increase education spending by about $1 billion, far more than he originally proposed. Schools are also poised for a significant increase in construction money, although that deal is a bit more complicated.

Many fights in Albany are more about preserving future power than accomplishing a current goal. But that dynamic doesn't exist this year because the governor isn't interested in four more years. For the first time in their 12 years together, the three men in the room aren't worrying about who will have the advantage next year.

The good news for those of us who enjoy political squabbling is that Mr. Bruno hasn't lost his edge. As usual, he and Mr. Silver see a bigger budget surplus than the governor - prompting this gem the other day from Mr. Bruno: "I think they oughtta go back to kindergarten and learn how to count down in the budget division."

Usually at this time of the year, Messrs. Bruno, Silver and Pataki are going after each other. When the only villains are budget crunchers, you know this year is different.

Mr. Goldin's column appears regularly.