Politics on the Hudson

Attention at the state Capitol this week will center on whether Senate Democrats can pass a bailout for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, but so far Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, doesn’t have the 32 votes needed to pass it, officials said this morning.

Smith is pledging to push for a vote this week, yet at least two Democratic senators, Long Island’s Brian Foley and Craig Johnson, remain the main opposition because they are against a payroll tax that would hit businesses to help the MTA avoid fare increases and service cuts.

Westchester County Sens. Suzi Oppenheimer and Andrea Stewart-Cousins have also opposed a payroll tax hitting schools, saying it would only lead to higher local property taxes.

And no Republican has come forward to support the Smith’s bailout plan.

The inability to get a deal is already leading to finger pointing, and rocky relations between Gov. David Paterson and Smith.