The Associated Press reports in The Daily Freeman that state legislators could vote themselves a raise in the new state budget that must be passed this week. Lawmakers currently get $79,500 a year, plus bonuses for leadership posts. Republican Senate Leader John Flanagan said March 27 that the raises are being discussed between himself, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democrat and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Independent Democratic Conference leader Jeff Klein, who conferences with Republicans. April 1 is the deadline to pass the budget. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.