Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. was released from the hospital this morning and plans to be in the chamber tomorrow to vote on the budget extender bills, despite having received permission from Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson to remain home.

"If I stay home because I'm sick I don't want people say that I'm doing another coup. I don't want the government to to shut down for me. I can't have that on my conscience."

Diaz Sr. was resting at home when I reached him. He had been in the hospital since last Thursday when he went to the emergency room after experiencing severe stomach pain.

As promised, Sampson went to visit his ailing member at Westchester Square Medical Center yesterday. According to Diaz Sr., the leader gave him permission to stay home if he needs to.

Diaz Sr. said he doesn’t plan to stay in Albany past the budget extender vote – unless he starts to feel better. The problem, he said, was an inflamed pancreas. There’s still no diagnosis, and he needs to go back to the hospital for more tests.

The Legislature is scheduled to work just two days this week because the Jewish holiday of Shavuot falls in the middle of the week.

The Senate Democrats have been instructed to be prepared to remain in Albany for five full days just in case a budget deal is reached, although they were told the same thing last week, too, and nothing came of that.

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