ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The Senate's Democratic majority has a tentative agreement with all its 32 members needed to approve a bailout of New York City's transit system and avoid double-digit fare increases and service cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith met privately with key senators in opposition into the evening Monday. But with
concessions that include special funding to school districts to exempt them from the payroll tax that would help fund the bailout, the suburban senators are so far agreeing to support the proposal.
Democratic Gov. David Paterson proposes the so-called bullet aid for schools as a way to get enough votes for a bailout before fare increases begin at the end of May.
Now the proposal goes to the Democrat-led Assembly where it's likely to be approved.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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