NYS Government "Announces" Reform

From the NYS Assembly Website

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2007

Silver, Spitzer Bruno Agree To Significant Budget Reform Measures

Silver, Gov. Spitzer and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno announced major reforms to the state budget process. "With this agreement, we move our state’s budget process into the 21st Century with a strong constitutional emphasis on mutual respect between the executive and legislative branches in forging a fiscal plan for our state. We will continue to rely upon the joint conference committees, and we will have a more transparent, more easily understood budget process," said Silver at a Capitol news conference with Spitzer and Bruno.
Highlights of the budget-reform package include designating the state comptroller to resolve disputes over revenue projections; preparing ‘plain language’ impact statements on spending programs, including local governments; itemizing ‘lump sum’ appropriations, including ‘member items’; and resolving budget bill disagreements through joint conference committees.


The release sounds like the men agreed to enact these reforms, great - here's the problem: the men only agreed on a common piece of legislation that will now have to go before the Assembly and the Senate for a vote, all before the Governor releases his budget on January 31st.