Gov. Cuomo, Legislature agree on tentative budget

(AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo is sealing a deal with theLegislature on a tentative $132.5 billion state budget that wouldbe historic for its spending cuts as well as its timeliness.
Cuomo says the budget will set New York on a new course afterdecades of overspending and overtaxing that have driven residentsout of state for better opportunities. It would reduce spendingoverall by more than 2 percent.
The Legislature still must pass the voluminous budget bills thisweek. In past years, tentative deals have fallen apart afterlawmakers, lobbyists and reporters pick apart deals struck inclosed-door negotiations.
But the 2011-2012 budget that Cuomo, Senate leader Dean Skelosand Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver stood behind Sunday would benearly identical to the proposal Cuomo presented Feb. 1.
The budget also addresses a $10 billion deficit. It is dueFriday.