N.Y. Senate to address OTB plan Tuesday; shutdown deadline nears

The New York Senate will return to Albany on Tuesday to address a bill that would enable the bankrupt New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation to implement a reorganization plan, according to Senate leaders. But officials for Gov. David Paterson said the promise to return on Tuesday is not enough to avert a shutdown of the corporation’s branches and account-wagering operation at the close of business today.

Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson said late on Thursday that the Senate would return to address the bill, but it remains unclear if the Democrats have the 32 votes to pass the measure without amending legislation that was passed by the Assembly last week. The Assembly has no plans to meet prior to 2011.

“I have spoken to our colleagues across the aisle and urge bipartisan cooperation and action on this and other outstanding issues before the state,” Sampson said in a statement. A number of bills addressing a $315 million budget deficit also remain outstanding.

Despite the vow, Jessica Bassett, a spokesperson for Gov. David Paterson, said that the state has not been assured that the bill would pass, citing the need for the Democrats to secure votes from Republicans. Therefore, New York City OTB will go ahead with its plans to shutdown at the close of business Friday.

“Absent a bipartisan assurance that they will pass the bill, the corporation has no choice but to move forward with the planned closure,” Bassett said.