State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli gave a taste of what a government shutdown might entail.

Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. told the AP: “I’m voting `no’ on Monday. So one of three things will happen Monday: They will have to do something, have a budget; Republicans are going to eat their pride and vote `yes’; or the government will shut down.”

Democratic legislative leaders downplayed the shutdown threat, while state agency heads have been told to prepare for one “as of midnight Monday.”

One stumbling block in the ongoing budget talks: The Senate Democrats’ refusal to back off their call for property tax relief.

Ex-Comptroller Alan Hevesi and his disgraced advisor, Hank Morris, met regularly to discuss pension fund business, according to AG Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo is keeping a very low political profile and has held no campaign events since marching in a Memorial Day Parade.

With the support of several labor unions, NYC students will stage a walkout today to demonstrate outside City Hall in protest of the end of free bus and subway rides.

This comes as Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a new task force to address the issue of truancy in city schools.

The latest target in Cuomo’s crusade against social networking sites: Tagged.com.

The AG is also cracking down on on-line scalpers who are selling free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park.

Gov. David Paterson will break ground on the new Lake Champlain bridge today; The Press Republican hopes he has learned a lesson about the importance of monitoring bridge safety.

The Senate GOP released its latest list of proposed spending cuts.

Assemblywoman Vivian Cook is keeping everyone guessing in Southeast Queens.

Paterson talked up hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, who apparently has a very expensive art collection.

Bloomberg rebuked the Empire State Building’s owner by declaring a “Day of Service” in honor of Mother Teresa.

The mayor told college journalists (in a meeting closed to the press) that he’s not interested in running for president.

Snooki & The Maverick.

Rudy Giuliani called President Obama’s reaction to the BP spill “a terrible display of somebody’s lack of executive experience.”

Councilpedia.

The former mayor is involving himself in Massachusetts politics.

A contribution GOP congressional candidate Tom Hanna made to the Independence Party in 2008 is under review by the Oneida County DA.

Bill Clinton is back.

The number of doctors sanctioned by the state has dropped to the lowest point in 15 years despite a growing number of complaints filed against them, NYPIRG says.

Paul Schindler deems the failure of GENDA in the Senate a “stunning setback.”

Common Cause NY’s Susan Lerner thinks a lot of people are brown-bagging it in Albany these days.

AG hopeful Sean Coffey says the financial reform legislation under consideration in Washington doesn’t go far enough.

Another AG candidate, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, wants debates ASAP.

Bring it, his opponents insist. (At least in theory).

The Times hails Paterson’s juvenile justice bill and gives a boost to embattled Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Gladys Carrion.

The Legislature approved a bill that would make stangulation a felony.

The TU is angling for Senate Coup II – on Election Day.

Marc Anthony will replace Osvaldo Rios as king of the Puerto Rican Day parade.

Despite their newbie status, Reps. Bill Owens and Scott Murphy are under GOP fire for failing to push for a budget resolution in the House this year.

The HIV/AIDS Services Administration is losing its deputy commissioner.

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