New York state lawmakers were bracing Sunday for the possible shutdown of state government. State offices and agencies would close if the vote on a weekly emergency spending bill is defeated.

Mayor Bloomberg, however, remained incredulous. “I don’t think they’ll do it. Who knows? And I don’t think anybody really knows. Nobody thinks that they will tell the guards at the state prisons, ‘Stay home and let the prisoners shift themselves’,” he said.

Two Bronx Democratic senators, Pedro Espada Jr. and Ruben Diaz, were threatening to vote against any budget extender. That decision might leave senate leaders without enough votes to pass it.

(Source: WCBSTV)