Lawmakers are feverishly working to pass the already late state budget as the deadline looms to green light or put the brakes on congestion pricing.The state Legislature has until the end of Monday night to approve New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's driving fee plan or the city will lose millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Transportation to make upgrades.

The plan would charge drivers $8 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; truck drivers would pay $21.

State Sen. Dean Skelos opposes the plan. "What Long Islanders have to look at is this is a tax on the working person who has to go into the city to make a living," The Republican lawmaker told News 12 Long Island during a phone interview.

He said there's a 50-50 chance that the budget, which was due March 31, will pass and he remained optimistic. "We're 95 percent of the way there. We've passed the health care, transportation ... public protection and government operation [parts]. Really, the last part is ... school aid and another few issues."

Skelos also said he believes Long Island's Republican lawmakers will have great success in restoring local school funding.