Chad Arnold reports in the Democrat and Chronicle that if the legislature approves Andrew Cuomo's budget proposal, the governor would be able to close as many state prisons as he wants. Cuomo would have to give 90 days notice, but could close prisons “as he determines to be necessary for the cost-effective and efficient operation of the correctional system,” the proposal reads. "We have consistently said that prisons are not an economic development program and by right-sizing the system as the prison population drastically declines, we’re already saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year," said Jason Conwall, a Cuomo spokesperson. The state's Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association opposes the measure. “We will fight tirelessly for our members to preserve their livelihood and make sure our prison system is as safe as possible," Michael Powers, the union's president, said in a statement. Read more about this story in the Democrat and Chronicle.