Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Ways and Means Committee Chair Herman D. Farrell, Jr., today released the Assembly's Statistical and Narrative Summary of the 2011-2012 Executive Budget, also known as the Yellow Book.

This comprehensive document provides an overview of the governor's $132.9 billion spending plan, programmatic reviews of key budgetary issues and detailed agency reviews of the governor's plan.

"This report presents the governor's proposal in the detail needed to make the critical decisions ahead," said Silver (D-Manhattan). "This is a key step in the Assembly's analysis of the state's fiscal standing and in the process of working with the governor and Senate to craft a timely and responsible budget."

"The governor presented his budget proposal February 1, the Assembly has begun its review, and now we will hear from experts from around the state on their concerns as we work toward passing an on-time budget," said Farrell (D-Manhattan).

Also today, the Assembly and Senate began holding joint legislative budget hearings on the governor's proposal. At the 13 hearings, officials, advocates and the public will address the Assembly and Senate fiscal committees on local and general government, environmental conservation, public protection, higher education, economic development, taxes, elementary and secondary education, human services, housing, transportation, workforce issues, mental hygiene and health and Medicaid.