Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson says he’s optimistic a three-way budget deal is in the offing.

The picture looks a whole lot different when you ask his Democratic colleagues in the Assembly or the Senate Republican Conference.

Capital Tonight’s Kaitlyn Ross caught up with Speaker Silver moments ago, who is none too pleased with the Senate’s decision to prolong the budget process beyond the July 4th holiday.

“I have no reaction.  We are going to be here tomorrow and conclude the business of the budget tomorrow,” Silver told Kaitlyn.

“That is it for the Assembly, but we’re always on board if we need to get something done.  We’re always on call.”

Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos just released this harshly worded statement:

“The whole budget process has been a failure of leadership by the Governor, Senator Sampson and Speaker Silver.  They had no problem passing bills to increase spending, but now they are going home without passing a bill to pay for it.  This is a Democrat-controlled government at its worst.  This disastrous budget was negotiated by the Democrats behind closed doors, they refused to negotiate in public or in a bipartisan manner, they passed it in piecemeal fashion and now they are leaving without finishing the job.”

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