Run for gov may KO budget talks

ALBANY State Senate Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco’s decision to run for governor could play havoc with the upcoming budget negotiations, insiders say.

In previous state budget talks, DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse) openly opposed such things as enactment of a $15-an-hour minimum wage hike and the creation of a statewide paid family leave program — only to end up voting for them as part of the final deal.

But this time around, he will be under more pressure to block progressive initiatives pushed by Gov. Cuomo that could hurt his bid to capture the Republican nomination, sources said.

It could also reopen the rift between conservative upstate senators who support DeFrancisco and downstate moderate senators aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan .

“DeFran running creates major problems for both the governor and the budget — and because of that it also really complicates things for Flanagan,” said an insider. “The Senate GOP is going to have a deputy leader courting the GOP primary base trying to hurt the governor. And Flanagan is going to be in the middle of all this.”

A Republican senator agrees “it could definitely be an issue” — especially since the GOP nominating convention isn’t until May, more than a month after a final budget is due.

The GOP senator added that Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, who also seeks the nod, can remain “pure” on issues since his conference’s votes are not needed to pass the budget in the Democrat-led chamber. DeFrancisco recently took “hard questions” about his past budget votes at meetings with the state Conservative Party and county GOP leaders. “Some people went after him for ultimately voting for the budget over the years,” Conservative Party head Michael Long said. DeFrancisco responded that he fought hard against different issues, but voted for the budgets once he lost so government could function, Long said. “I think this year he’ll have a tougher time,” Long said. DeFrancisco told the Daily News he’ll continue to speak out against Cuomo policies he disagrees with and that his budget vote “will be based on the merits of the final package, and whether or not it serves the interests of the people of New York State.” lll The state Independence Party is opposing a pro-Airbnb bill that would allow short-term rentals in New York City apartments.

In a memo opposing the bill, the party says current law prohibiting city residents in apartment buildings from renting their units for less than 30 days “helped to stabilize the New York City housing market and freed up much needed affordable housing.”

Airbnb’s Josh Meltzer said the party should have reached out before taking a position on a bill “that would impact tens of thousands of New Yorkers.”

lll State Senate Republicans see former Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian as their best shot at winning a key special election in Westchester County that could determine which party controls the chamber.

The fact that Killian is a woman who would face another woman — Democratic Assemblywoman Shelly Mayer — would be a benefit in the current political climate, GOP insiders say.