ALBANY -- The New York budget process is running behind schedule in a Capitol distracted by sex scandals, with lawmakers unable to agree even on how much they have to spend.

Budget conference committees were supposed to begin a week ago, but they still haven't met. Under the state constitution, lawmakers must reach a final budget by April 1.

There is increasing talk of passing a partial budget to meet the deadline, and then passing the balance of the budget in coming months. Under law, legislators' pay is docked for as long as a budget is late.

The budget was late for 20 straight years until 2005 and the current budget was late, but just barely: It was passed late on the morning of April 1, missing the midnight deadline.