Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports - “It remains to be seen whether Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch’s plan to overhaul state finances will pass the narrowly divided state Senate.

But the price tag might include keeping an upstate prison or two open, despite Gov. David Paterson’s call to shut the facilities down due to a declining inmate count. Or the state could end up selling some New York City power plants to help balance the budget.

Both ideas were floated by North Country Democratic Sen. Darrel Aubertine on Thursday. While one senator can’t shift an entire state policy, Aubertine is one of a handful of Democrats — most from Republican-leaning regions — who once again find themselves in a pivotal position due to the Senate Democrats’ need to marshal their entire 32-vote majority to pass initiatives that Republicans, with 30 seats, are likely to oppose. (There are now 31 Democratic seats; a special election next week will fill the seat of ousted former Sen. Hiram Monserrate; the heavily Democratic district is unlikely to elect a Republican.)”

To read more click here.