This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo touted his efforts over the last seven years to contain the growth of state spending in annual budgets, approving spending increases of less than 2 percent a year.

"Critics say New York spends too much money," Cuomo said. "New York state spends less money than it ever has in recorded history, period. Our budget goes up less than 2 percent a year, the lowest amount in the history since they've been keeping numbers."

But problems are on the horizon for 2018. The state faces a $4.6 billion budget deficit and an annual push to increase spending on education and health care.

"It's going to be a horrible budget where you've got a four-point-something billion-dollar deficit, and even more, according to others," said State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R - Syracuse). "You don't start a budget year like that and expect good things to happen."

And the state could feel the squeeze from the federal tax overhaul and the effort to cap state and local taxes, a move seen as hurting New York.

"I will fight this economic civil war every day I am governor of the state of New York," Cuomo said.

Still more trouble for the governor could come in the form of an FBI investigation into the practice of hiring aides to work in the governor's office, but for payroll purposes declaring they work for various state agencies and departments. 

"You know as much as I know," Cuomo said. "Every administration on the state level since Rockefeller has hired people and detailed them. The federal government does it. The White House does it. The Department of Justice does it."

Challenged by a reporter over this long-standing practice, Cuomo grew testy.

"Have you been in Albany? Have you covered government?" Cuomo asked. "Do people who have political experience get hired by government? Or is this a new fact for you?"

An aide later said Cuomo was emotional over the advancement of the tax plan in Congress.