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Cuomo, De Blasio Spar Once More Over MTA Capital Plan Funding

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The political battle over MTA funding is picking up speed, with both sides pointing fingers.

It appears Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo are inching closer, but are still a few train stops a part on how to fund the agency's five-year capital plan.

As 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported, de Blasio seems willing to increase the city's contribution to over $2 billion, but he wants assurances from the governor.

"There have to be ground rules that protect the taxpayers of New York City and protect the straphangers," the mayor said. "The one thing we will not do is put money into an MTA budget to see it siphoned off."

In response, Cuomo lashed out at de Blasio for claiming that if the city kicks in more money, the state could take it for other purposes, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.

"It is a joke to say I give you $1 billion, I take $20 million to pay off bonds as a bookkeeping entry and for your response to be 'you took $20 million,'" Cuomo said.

Cuomo is pressing the mayor to provide $3 billion, saying the state will pay $8 billion.

If the state makes that contribution, it will stay with the transit agency. Cuomo called it "bullet proof," Haskell reported.

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