Prompt-payment veto override looking unlikely (Spin Cycle)

For the second time in five months, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy appears poised to prevail in a veto fight with lawmakers over prompt payments to day-care providers.

The bill, which would require the county to pay providers within 30 days of the provider submitting an invoice, appears likely to be killed tomorrow because Legis. Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-Setauket) isn't likely to have enough votes to override Levy’s veto.

See the jump for the details.

Viloria-Fisher needs 12 votes to override Levy's veto. She said earlier today that she has 10 -- we counted eight today with two more very likely. That still leaves two.

Here's how legislators told us they plan to vote. A yes vote is to override the veto, a no vote kills the bill.

1. Edward P. Romaine (R-Center Moriches) – yes
2. Jay Schneiderman (R-Montauk) – yes
3. Kate M. Browning (WF-Shirley) – yes
4. Brian Beedenbender (D-Centereach) – no
5. Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-Setauket) – yes
6. Daniel P. Losquadro (R-Shoreham) – yes
7. Jack Eddington (WF-Medford) – no
8. William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) – no
9. Ricardo Montano (D-Central Islip) – yes
10. Cameron Alden (R-Islip) – yes
11. Thomas F. Barraga (R-West Islip) – yes
12. John M. Kennedy, Jr. (R-Nesconset) – did not return phone calls
13. Lynne Nowick (R-St. James) – said she does not know
14. Wayne R. Horsley (D-Babylon) – no
15. Elie Mystal (D-Amityville) – did not return phone calls
16. Steven H. Stern (D-Dix Hills) – did not return phone calls
17. Louis D'Amaro (D-North Babylon) – no
18. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) – no

Viloria-Fisher is counting on Kennedy and Nowick to vote yes, but she would still need both Mystal and Stern, or convince Eddington to change his mind. D'Amaro, Eddington, Horsley and Stern each voted to approve the bill, then voted to the sustain Levy's September veto, then voted to approve the bill again in December.

Horsley said today that he voted for the bill to get Levy's attention.

"I wanted to bust some chops," he said. "I want the county executive to know that theres a feeling out there that we've got to start making our payments as close to on time as possible."

Levy spent part of his day lobbying legislators. Eddington said he'd already changed his mind twice today. We talked with him after he'd spoken with Levy.

"This morning I was leaning the other way," said Eddington, who said he's likely to vote to sustain the veto. "I don't know, to be absolutely honest. I just don’t know how I'm going to feel tomorrow. I want to hear the arguments once more."

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