All Over Albany

State facing huge budget gap, Gillibrand-Treadwell race one of nation's most expensive, cop dragged by truck, Schenectady OK with "arcane" reference

David Paterson will be presenting a mid-year budget plan for the state today -- the projected budget gap for 2009-2010 is expected to be a record $12.5 billion. [NYDN]

The candidates for the 21st Congressional District (McNulty's seat), Paul Tonko and Jim Buhrmaster, met for another debate last night. Here's the full video. [WNYT]

The Congressional race between Kirsten Gillibrand and Sandy Treadwell is the nation's second most expensive, according to FEC data. The two campaigns have spent a total of $9.2 million so far. [Daily Gazette]

This year's campaigns for the state Senate are shaping up to collectively be the most expensive ever, according to an analysis by NYPIRG. Campaigns have already spent $40 million and are on pace to surpass the $43.6 million spent in 2006. [NYT]

AMD is looking to get an exemption for the sales taxes it would have to pay on construction materials for the Luther Forest chip fab. If the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency approves the exemption, it could save AMD almost $28 million. The exemption is expected to be approved. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

Albany police say an officer was dragged down a street by a pick-up truck Sunday afternoon. Apparently the officer tried to reach into the truck and turn it off when the man behind the wheel backed the up truck up quickly. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

It sounds like there as some first-class crankiness on display at a publich hearing yesterday about Schenectady's 2009 budget. Someone actually used the phrase "voodoo economics." A small group of people had shown up to protest the tax and fee increases in the budget. [Daily Gazette]

Fasig-Tipton is looking to expand its auction facility in Saratoga. [Saratogian]

People in Schenectady are glad that the Charlie Kaufman film Synecdoche, New York references the city -- even if, in the mayor's words, "it's in a more arcane way." (Earlier on AOA: Sounds like Schenectady) [Daily Gazette]