The Felder Factor was budget snag

THE POWERFUL member of the Republican State Senate majority with the ability to hold up the state budget is a Brooklyn Democrat: Sen. Simcha Felder.

With the fiscal year’s end looming, budget talks hit a roadblock after Felder demanded the inclusion of a provision that would allow private yeshivas to be exempted from state standards for nonreligious instruction.

Felder (photo) is a Democrat who caucuses with the Senate Republicans — and gives them their razor-thin 32-vote majority.

“He is the center of the Albany universe,” one insider quipped.

Felder, a former Brooklyn city councilman, was elected to the senate in 2012 as a Democrat but announced shortly after that he intended to caucus with Republicans — which he has done ever since.

Felder refused to discuss the yeshiva issue with reporters Friday but denied he was the budget blockade.

“I am not Moses, I am not Jesus,” Felder said. “I am not that powerful.”

To that end, it looked increasingly likely Friday that, with extenders off the table and a Sunday deadline looming, the Senate would pass a budget to match the Assembly’s, without Felder’s demands, in order to avoid a shutdown.

But that Felder could hold up negotiations as long as he did is an indication of his powerful perch atop the Senate’s margin.

“He’s our version of the filibustering Washingtonians,” political consultant Hank Sheinkopf said.

Standing up for the yeshiva issue, even if he isn’t ultimately successful, is a win-win for Felder, Sheinkopf argued — because it’s a top issue to many Orthodox Jewish voters who live in his district.

“If he didn’t take the stand, he might be looking for new work. And unemployment is always a motivator for political people.”

It’s unclear how long Felder can retain the amount of leverage he has in Albany — Democrats hope to pick up a couple of seats in upcoming special elections.

“This is his moment,” the insider said. “Right now, he’s basically the Senate president. ”