Lawmakers returning to Albany in January are expected to focus on financial matters such as how to spend New York's $5 billion bank settlements windfall.
The Assembly is controlled by downstate Democrats, while upstate and Long Island Republicans dominate the Senate.
Ongoing stalemates are likely to continue on social issues such as abortion rights, campaign finance reform and raising the minimum wage.
Legislative leaders and the governor ARE talking about using the $5 billion from bank settlements for such items as infrastructure and bulletproofing police cars.
Their chief job is the 2015 budget, with never-ending pressure to increase school aid.
(c) 2014 AP
