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Cuomo, legislative leaders agree to budget deal

Story Created: Mar 20, 2013 at 9:56 PM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 20, 2013 at 10:01 PM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders say they have an agreement on a state budget that would include raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour over three years.

The closed-door agreement announced Wednesday puts Albany on track to pass the third straight on-time budget.

The deal includes raising the minimum wage of $7.25.

The 2013-14 spending plan would increase state spending just under 2 percent, to about $136 billion. The total is almost $143 billion when federal aid for Superstorm Sandy recovery is included.

Now, the Senate and Assembly must print and pass the bills by next week to beat the April 1 deadline.

Cuomo says he wants to avoid issuing orders to suspend the three days' public review of bills required under the constitution

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