Budget Impasse

In Washington, D.C., some of Johnson’s numbers problems could be solved if he softened his stance on proxy voting, which he has routinely decried as unconstitutional. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) is preparing to force a vote on the issue through a legislative avenue known as a discharge petition, and Johnson has few options to stop her. Outside of peeling off GOP supporters of the plan, Johnson will either have to kill the discharge petition in the Rules Committee this week or change House rules to increase the threshold needed to trigger a fast-track vote. Luna has said the threats of proxy voting have been overblown, commenting, “I am not going to destroy democracy by allowing female members to vote when recovering from birth.” Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) announced she is pregnant and due in August, adding even more incentive for Johnson to evolve on the issue of proxy voting. Of course, Luna and her colleagues could follow the approach of Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and just vote by proxy regardless.

Republicans in the House and Senate are aiming to adopt a negotiated budget blueprint before they leave town for a two-week Easter recess on April 11th. The budget blueprint is the first step towards crafting a bill that contains Trump’s tax, border, energy, and defense policies, but both Chambers must pass the same budget measure to begin drafting legislation. That could prove difficult as the Senate has already made clear they have concerns with the proposed House blueprint. Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters, “They said they needed time to do one big, beautiful bill. They had a chance; the product is woefully inadequate.” One of the biggest points of contention is the Senate’s preference to make the expiring 2017 tax cuts permanent, while the House plan does not. The path forward on taxes could come into clearer focus this week with the Senate parliamentarian expected to decide whether Republicans can use the “current policy baseline” accounting practice to exclude the cost of tax cuts from their budget proposal.

In order to meet the ambitious Easter deadline, GOP leaders could kick the can down the road on the thorniest issues and simply approve a budget resolution that instructs each Chamber’s respective committees to decide what programs under their jurisdiction should be cut. This plan would allow both sides to get behind the same budget resolution with difficult decisions over individual programs, like the $880 billion in cuts assigned to the House panel that oversees Medicaid, coming later. Lawmakers were given a de facto deadline to pass a final budget reconciliation bill by the Congressional Budget Office, which announced last week that the U.S. will default on its debt around August or September if Congress does not act.

Patrick Carroll, Democratic State Assembly Member for District 96, brings a strong record of public service, legal expertise, and community engagement to Albany. Representing portions of Rockland County—including the Towns of Clarkstown and Haverstraw—Patrick is a lifelong advocate for working families, suburban quality of life, and responsible government.

Elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2024, Patrick previously served on the Clarkstown Town Council from 2017 to 2024, where he championed efforts to reduce the tax burden, fight overdevelopment, and preserve open space. Known for his pragmatic leadership and dedication to local concerns, he was a vocal advocate for fiscal responsibility, public safety, and strong public schools.

A graduate of Wesleyan University and Northeastern University School of Law, Patrick has been a practicing attorney since 2008. He is admitted to practice law in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. His legal career includes serving as counsel to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections and as legal counsel to the Rhode Island State Senate Labor Committee, where he worked on legislation to protect workers' rights and improve public safety.

In the Assembly, Patrick is focused on standing up to reckless overdevelopment, securing critical resources for schools and law enforcement, eliminating government waste, and preserving the environment. His priorities reflect a deep commitment to safeguarding the character and future of Rockland County’s communities.

Patrick resides in Bardonia with his wife, Natalie, and their four daughters—Madelyn, Lily, Paige, and Hailey. Deeply rooted in his community, he volunteers as a CYO basketball coach, supports the Hudson Valley Special Olympics, and participates in local beautification efforts through the Keep Rockland Beautiful initiative. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, beach outings, and spending quality time with his family.

As Assembly Member for District 96, Patrick brings thoughtful leadership, legal acumen, and a strong sense of civic duty to his work in Albany, striving every day to deliver results for the people of Rockland County.

Much more importantly, Denise is my mother, my friend, and an inspiration. Growing up, I watched her working harder than everyone else and bringing a commitment to justice to every job and every situation. Denise rounds out our Women’s History salute but, frankly, always proved through example that women’s history is every day of the year.

Results of the Last Poll