Republicans appear to have retaken control of the state Senate this afternoon after two dissident Democrats crossed the aisle in a parliamentary coup.
"An historic change in leadership is taking place at this moment and a new bipartisan, coalition is being established that is bringing real reform to the Senate RIGHT NOW," according to a news advisory sent out by the GOP.
The Associated Press reported that two Democrats -- Hiram Monserrate of Queens and Pedro Espada, Jr. of the Bronx -- are poised to announce that they have decided to caucus with the GOP out of anger at Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.
The flip gives Republicans a 32-30 edge in the chamber and ensures that Smith is longer the majority leader.
Democrats tried to leave the chamber at one point -- even turning off the lights briefly before order was restored.
Democrats said they plan to take the fight to court.
In a statement sent out by Smith's office, a spokesman called the move "illegal and unlawful"
"Nothing has changed, Senator Malcolm A. Smith remains the duly elected Temporary President and Majority Leader," the spokesman added. "The real Senate Majority is anxious to get back to governing, and will take immediate steps to get us back to work."
NY Post
Republicans Regain Control Of NY State Senate
Moderator: Super Moderators
Republicans Regain Control Of NY State Senate
Last edited by Kaztronic on 06-08-2009 04:23 PM, edited 1 time in total.
"You'll get used to my babbling, all the others have." - Anna Madrigal from "Tales Of The City" by Armistead Maupin
Monserrate is a piece of work.
From March, 2009:
~snip~
A Queens state senator was indicted today on domestic assault charges stemming from allegations that he slashed his girlfriend's face with a piece of broken glass, prosecutors said.
A grand jury indicted Hiram Monserrate on three counts of second-degree felony assault and three counts of third-degree misdemeanor assault.
Monserrate, a Democrat, faces seven years in prison. He is expected to be arraigned later this week.
NY Post
From March, 2009:
~snip~
A Queens state senator was indicted today on domestic assault charges stemming from allegations that he slashed his girlfriend's face with a piece of broken glass, prosecutors said.
A grand jury indicted Hiram Monserrate on three counts of second-degree felony assault and three counts of third-degree misdemeanor assault.
Monserrate, a Democrat, faces seven years in prison. He is expected to be arraigned later this week.
NY Post
Last edited by Kaztronic on 06-08-2009 04:18 PM, edited 1 time in total.
"You'll get used to my babbling, all the others have." - Anna Madrigal from "Tales Of The City" by Armistead Maupin
So is Espada.Monserrate is a piece of work.
Snip...
Pedro Espada Jr., who represents The Bronx but actually lives in tony Mamaroneck -- is a serial party-switcher who's implicated in state-funding shenanigans involving his nonprofit health-care company.
Snip...
Espada has a long history of being a renegade and displaying party disloyalty. Three workers at a firm he runs, the Soundview Health Care Network, pleaded guilty in 2005 to diverting $30,000 from programs for family care and AIDS treatment to his political campaign. He was not charged.
Earlier, Espada was caught red-handed attempting to steer $745,000 in grants to his outfit.
In 1998, Espada was accused of attempting to direct $260,000 in Medicaid funds from his firm to his political campaign. He was acquitted of the charges.
More on both of them at the link.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06092009/ne ... 173307.htm
From the undisputed king of Albany political reporting, Frederick U. Dicker, here is some further reading explaining the background of this mess. Given the behavior of the Democrats upon regainging control of the State Senate, it is difficult to have any sympathy for them. Also, interesting note is that Espada and Monseratte are not changing party affiliation, just caucusing with the Republicans - I wonder how long that can last.
~snip~
ALBANY -- The historic and breathtak ing coup that apparently ousted Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith yesterday was set in motion three weeks ago -- but it was six months in the making.
The foundation was laid in December when the "Gang of Four" renegade Democrats repeatedly played political footsie with shell-shocked Republicans who had just narrowly lost their Senate majority for the first time in 43 years.
The flirtation heated up in the following weeks -- but not because of anything done by the Republicans and "Gang" members.
The major factor was the ham-handed and embarrassingly chaotic leadership by the Queens-based Smith and other leading Democrats, including Deputy Majority Leader Jeff Klein of The Bronx, that angered and alienated Senate Republicans.
Most importantly, it led key "Gang" members Pedro Espada Jr. of The Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens to decide to jump ship, several insiders said last night.
Under Smith's leadership, Democrats, who held a bare one-vote majority, gloated as they fired nearly 200 employees of the Senate Republicans, many of whom had considerable knowledge and skill.
Smith's Democrats, who had promised to "reform" the Senate by equalizing resources for the majority and minority parties, treated the Republicans worse than the GOP had treated them.
The Democrats cut the Republicans' central staff allotment by some $4 million below the Democrats' former level and gleefully booted GOP senators from offices they had occupied for decades.
If the Republicans needed any final proof that the Democrats were determined to grind them into political dust, they got it yesterday morning when, after two months' delay, they were finally provided with a list of the pork-barrel "member items" they would be receiving this year.
The "split" turned out to be hugely lopsided: $76.7 million in projects for the 32 Democrats and only $8.2 million for the 30 Republicans.
Another key factor was the outrage of Rochester billionaire and newly minted Florida resident Thomas Golisano, a three-time candidate for governor and strong advocate of reduced taxes who spent some $5 million last fall helping the Democrats capture the Senate.
Golisano contended Smith and the Democrats betrayed him by backing a record-high, tax-and-spend state budget in April.
So he decided to help put the GOP back in power.
Golisano, who has longstanding ties to Espada and a deep-pockets political action committee, Responsible New York, made it clear that he'd be willing to help Espada and other renegade Democrats win what could become a difficult re-election battle next year if they joined with Republicans in a coup.
The final and decisive factor was the failure of Smith and the Democrats to give the dynamic and at times controversial Espada, who had been given the title of vice president of the Senate, any real power.
"Pedro could see he wasn't being given any of the things that he had been promised and that it wasn't likely to get any better in the coming months," said a source who was involved in the coup.
Espada also told associates that he found Smith "embarrassing" and "unable to provide the kind of leadership that Democrats really need," according to a source close to Espada.
Talks got under way with Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos about three weeks ago, with Golisano and Sen. George Maziarz of Niagara County serving at times as intermediaries.
"The talks involved reforms that Espada said he wanted and what his role would be if the leadership in the Senate changes," said one of those involved in the negotiations.
One of the most amazing things about the coup was that neither Smith nor any of his Democratic loyalists learned of any details in advance.
If Smith had had the information, he might have been able to head off the coup. The fact that he didn't says a lot about why he's on the verge of losing one of the most powerful jobs in state government.
NY Post
~snip~
ALBANY -- The historic and breathtak ing coup that apparently ousted Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith yesterday was set in motion three weeks ago -- but it was six months in the making.
The foundation was laid in December when the "Gang of Four" renegade Democrats repeatedly played political footsie with shell-shocked Republicans who had just narrowly lost their Senate majority for the first time in 43 years.
The flirtation heated up in the following weeks -- but not because of anything done by the Republicans and "Gang" members.
The major factor was the ham-handed and embarrassingly chaotic leadership by the Queens-based Smith and other leading Democrats, including Deputy Majority Leader Jeff Klein of The Bronx, that angered and alienated Senate Republicans.
Most importantly, it led key "Gang" members Pedro Espada Jr. of The Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens to decide to jump ship, several insiders said last night.
Under Smith's leadership, Democrats, who held a bare one-vote majority, gloated as they fired nearly 200 employees of the Senate Republicans, many of whom had considerable knowledge and skill.
Smith's Democrats, who had promised to "reform" the Senate by equalizing resources for the majority and minority parties, treated the Republicans worse than the GOP had treated them.
The Democrats cut the Republicans' central staff allotment by some $4 million below the Democrats' former level and gleefully booted GOP senators from offices they had occupied for decades.
If the Republicans needed any final proof that the Democrats were determined to grind them into political dust, they got it yesterday morning when, after two months' delay, they were finally provided with a list of the pork-barrel "member items" they would be receiving this year.
The "split" turned out to be hugely lopsided: $76.7 million in projects for the 32 Democrats and only $8.2 million for the 30 Republicans.
Another key factor was the outrage of Rochester billionaire and newly minted Florida resident Thomas Golisano, a three-time candidate for governor and strong advocate of reduced taxes who spent some $5 million last fall helping the Democrats capture the Senate.
Golisano contended Smith and the Democrats betrayed him by backing a record-high, tax-and-spend state budget in April.
So he decided to help put the GOP back in power.
Golisano, who has longstanding ties to Espada and a deep-pockets political action committee, Responsible New York, made it clear that he'd be willing to help Espada and other renegade Democrats win what could become a difficult re-election battle next year if they joined with Republicans in a coup.
The final and decisive factor was the failure of Smith and the Democrats to give the dynamic and at times controversial Espada, who had been given the title of vice president of the Senate, any real power.
"Pedro could see he wasn't being given any of the things that he had been promised and that it wasn't likely to get any better in the coming months," said a source who was involved in the coup.
Espada also told associates that he found Smith "embarrassing" and "unable to provide the kind of leadership that Democrats really need," according to a source close to Espada.
Talks got under way with Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos about three weeks ago, with Golisano and Sen. George Maziarz of Niagara County serving at times as intermediaries.
"The talks involved reforms that Espada said he wanted and what his role would be if the leadership in the Senate changes," said one of those involved in the negotiations.
One of the most amazing things about the coup was that neither Smith nor any of his Democratic loyalists learned of any details in advance.
If Smith had had the information, he might have been able to head off the coup. The fact that he didn't says a lot about why he's on the verge of losing one of the most powerful jobs in state government.
NY Post
"You'll get used to my babbling, all the others have." - Anna Madrigal from "Tales Of The City" by Armistead MaupinThis story is still developing, and is frankly an embarrassment for the entire state of New York at this point. Government has stopped working altogether, with critical legislation - such as the future of NYC's school system on the line.
Reading through the most recent articles on this mess, my feelings that there truly are few true differences between how bad both the Republican & Democratic parties are only reinforced.
~Snip~
The madcap exchange capped a day in which no one, from Espada to Gov. Paterson to deposed Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, seemed able to control the bedlam.
Among the main acts yesterday at the Albany circus:
* Espada and his Republican-backed coalition postponed their session until this afternoon.
* Smith announced plans to challenge Monday's coup in court.
* Paterson appeared to abandon Smith and called on senators to convene immediately.
* Monserrate reportedly increased his demands to Republicans as Democrats worked to regain his support and bring the 62-member chamber to a 31-31 deadlock.
* Rumors swirled that other Democratic defectors could join the Republicans, including Tom Duane of Manhattan, who is pushing for legalization of gay marriage.
* Disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer even weighed in, calling the GOP takeover "good for New York."
The locked doors to the Senate chamber were expected to be the site of a 3 p.m. showdown between apparent Senate President Espada and Smith, the Queens Democrat he ousted.
The locked doors to the Senate chamber were expected to be the site of a 3 p.m. showdown between apparent Senate President Espada and Smith, the Queens Democrat he ousted.
After keeping the press and as many as 300 lobbyists, lawmakers, staffers and spectators waiting for more than two hours in the lobby, Monserrate appeared with his co-conspirators and said he was still with the coup.
"I am here, ladies and gentlemen, to work with Dean Skelos and Pedro Espada for the good of the people of the state of New York," Monserrate said. As he left the lobby, he smiled at Sunny the Clown, who told him, "I'm here to join the circus."
Espada and his newfound partner, Senate Republican leader Skelos of Long Island, yesterday claimed to have the keys and had threatened to move into the Senate chamber and start passing bills with or without the 30 exiled Democrats still publicly allied with Smith.
Espada boasted last night he was having dinner with "10 Democrats" interested in joining the coalition, but Democratic leaders insisted all 30 of their members were hanging together.
The GOP-backed coalition appeared to pick up a surprise supporter when Paterson, a Democrat, called on Smith to "get back to the chamber" to vote and bring key legislation up for a vote.
"This is getting a little ridiculous," Paterson said.
"They've got to act like adults and they've got to address this issue. Anyone who is responsible for furthering the lockout of democracy is wrong."
But a confrontation at the Senate gates was postponed after Monserrate requested another day to bring more Democrats into the fold.
The request was seen by many observers as a reflection of the enormous pressure on Monserrate, who arrived more than an hour late for a meeting with Skelos and Republicans before the news conference.
"He's getting calls from all kinds of people, including the governor's people, trying to get him to stay on board with the Democrats," said a leading Democratic activist.
Democrats were so desperate to regain power, many were willing to toss aside Smith, who had helped lead the party to its thin Senate majority in November.
Several Democrats, including some longtime Smith allies, pointedly refused to say whether they still supported him.
Meanwhile, Smith announced he would ask an Albany court to rule that the coup was illegal because the Senate had elected him to a two-year term in January.
Speculation swept the Senate that Monserrate was attempting what one lobbyist described as a "last-minute shakedown" of the Republican leadership and their billionaire benefactor, Thomas Golisano.
Monserrate was reported to be seeking additional commitments on everything from committee posts to staff or to help with his legal defense in an assault case.
NY Post
Reading through the most recent articles on this mess, my feelings that there truly are few true differences between how bad both the Republican & Democratic parties are only reinforced.
~Snip~
The madcap exchange capped a day in which no one, from Espada to Gov. Paterson to deposed Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, seemed able to control the bedlam.
Among the main acts yesterday at the Albany circus:
* Espada and his Republican-backed coalition postponed their session until this afternoon.
* Smith announced plans to challenge Monday's coup in court.
* Paterson appeared to abandon Smith and called on senators to convene immediately.
* Monserrate reportedly increased his demands to Republicans as Democrats worked to regain his support and bring the 62-member chamber to a 31-31 deadlock.
* Rumors swirled that other Democratic defectors could join the Republicans, including Tom Duane of Manhattan, who is pushing for legalization of gay marriage.
* Disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer even weighed in, calling the GOP takeover "good for New York."
The locked doors to the Senate chamber were expected to be the site of a 3 p.m. showdown between apparent Senate President Espada and Smith, the Queens Democrat he ousted.
The locked doors to the Senate chamber were expected to be the site of a 3 p.m. showdown between apparent Senate President Espada and Smith, the Queens Democrat he ousted.
After keeping the press and as many as 300 lobbyists, lawmakers, staffers and spectators waiting for more than two hours in the lobby, Monserrate appeared with his co-conspirators and said he was still with the coup.
"I am here, ladies and gentlemen, to work with Dean Skelos and Pedro Espada for the good of the people of the state of New York," Monserrate said. As he left the lobby, he smiled at Sunny the Clown, who told him, "I'm here to join the circus."
Espada and his newfound partner, Senate Republican leader Skelos of Long Island, yesterday claimed to have the keys and had threatened to move into the Senate chamber and start passing bills with or without the 30 exiled Democrats still publicly allied with Smith.
Espada boasted last night he was having dinner with "10 Democrats" interested in joining the coalition, but Democratic leaders insisted all 30 of their members were hanging together.
The GOP-backed coalition appeared to pick up a surprise supporter when Paterson, a Democrat, called on Smith to "get back to the chamber" to vote and bring key legislation up for a vote.
"This is getting a little ridiculous," Paterson said.
"They've got to act like adults and they've got to address this issue. Anyone who is responsible for furthering the lockout of democracy is wrong."
But a confrontation at the Senate gates was postponed after Monserrate requested another day to bring more Democrats into the fold.
The request was seen by many observers as a reflection of the enormous pressure on Monserrate, who arrived more than an hour late for a meeting with Skelos and Republicans before the news conference.
"He's getting calls from all kinds of people, including the governor's people, trying to get him to stay on board with the Democrats," said a leading Democratic activist.
Democrats were so desperate to regain power, many were willing to toss aside Smith, who had helped lead the party to its thin Senate majority in November.
Several Democrats, including some longtime Smith allies, pointedly refused to say whether they still supported him.
Meanwhile, Smith announced he would ask an Albany court to rule that the coup was illegal because the Senate had elected him to a two-year term in January.
Speculation swept the Senate that Monserrate was attempting what one lobbyist described as a "last-minute shakedown" of the Republican leadership and their billionaire benefactor, Thomas Golisano.
Monserrate was reported to be seeking additional commitments on everything from committee posts to staff or to help with his legal defense in an assault case.
NY Post
"You'll get used to my babbling, all the others have." - Anna Madrigal from "Tales Of The City" by Armistead Maupinhttp://wcbstv.com/politics/espada.senat ... 56280.html
Jun 24, 2009 1:13 am US/Eastern
Albany Circus Act Continues
Dems Refuse To Recognize Espada As President Pro Tem, Don't Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance During Special Session
Republicans Fail To Take Podium, Pass Bills By Acclamation
Reporting
Marcia Kramer
ALBANY (CBS)
The battle for control of the New York State Senate got even more bizarre Tuesday.
After talks of a power-sharing arrangement broke down, Democrats locked themselves in the Senate chamber, Republicans tried to conduct business on their own and none of the "people's business" got done.
As incredible as it may seem, pictures obtained by CBS 2 HD are of the Democratic senators who locked themselves inside their chamber so they could be "first in" for Gov. David Paterson's special session. The pictures, shot through the window of a Senate door, seem to show that it was all about taking possession of the podium.
Yonkers Sen. Andrea Stewart Cousins is seen standing there to prevent the Republicans from taking over. The move came shortly after Democrats said talks of establishing a bi-partisan operating agreement fell through because a Republican coalition insisted the Senate president be Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada.
"We do not concede that Pedro Espada is the Senate president. We have offered to put aside the issues of whether the president of the Senate is Sen. [Malcolm] Smith or Sen. Espada," said Sen. Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan.
What happened next was equally incredible. With the Democrats in their seats, the Republicans marched in and tried to take the podium. They were rebuffed, so they held a session from the well of the chamber and passed dozens of bills by acclamation.
The odd thing was when Republican senators start the session with the pledge of allegiance. The Democrats didn't stand to participate and when one tried to stand, he was pulled down.
After the Republicans gaveled out, the Democrats gaveled in their special session. The problem was Sen. Smith said they couldn't proceed because they didn't have the governor's bills
The big question is when or if they'll ever be able to pass anything.
"At this time, no one in this chamber is holding the governor's business back, other than the governor's office not having the material needed on time," Smith said.
Paterson was furious. His aides said the bills were sent to the Senate chamber at 1 p.m.
"I've been a public servant for over 20 years and what I've seen in the last two weeks in the Senate disgusts me. Their inaction is a dereliction of duty. I pledge as governor there will be no more tolerance of these delays and these distractions."
Paterson said this week that he would call special legislative sessions every day, including on weekends and holidays, until the two sides could come to an agreement. Senators would have to attend such sessions, but they would not have to vote on any bills. Who would preside over the sessions remains unclear.
Paterson has lashed out at senators for the ongoing soap opera. It's been two weeks since the state Senate accomplished anything and the governor said enough is enough.
But his mandate seemed to make little impact considering Tuesday's madness.
Meanwhile, the Assembly adjourned at 2 a.m. Tuesday after passing hundreds of bills. Most of the measures have companion bills pending in the Senate.
Those affected by the delay include Mayor Michael Bloomberg and all New York City residents.
He's pushing for a renewal of mayoral control of city schools, citing recent favorable performance data. Like so many other local officials across the Empire State, Bloomberg is anxiously waiting for a break in the legislative deadlock.
"I think everybody understands that mayoral control really has been the key to all of this," Bloomberg said. "It has given us the ability to make the tough decisions and hold people accountable for results."
Jun 24, 2009 1:13 am US/Eastern
Albany Circus Act Continues
Dems Refuse To Recognize Espada As President Pro Tem, Don't Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance During Special Session
Republicans Fail To Take Podium, Pass Bills By Acclamation
Reporting
Marcia Kramer
ALBANY (CBS)
The battle for control of the New York State Senate got even more bizarre Tuesday.
After talks of a power-sharing arrangement broke down, Democrats locked themselves in the Senate chamber, Republicans tried to conduct business on their own and none of the "people's business" got done.
As incredible as it may seem, pictures obtained by CBS 2 HD are of the Democratic senators who locked themselves inside their chamber so they could be "first in" for Gov. David Paterson's special session. The pictures, shot through the window of a Senate door, seem to show that it was all about taking possession of the podium.
Yonkers Sen. Andrea Stewart Cousins is seen standing there to prevent the Republicans from taking over. The move came shortly after Democrats said talks of establishing a bi-partisan operating agreement fell through because a Republican coalition insisted the Senate president be Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada.
"We do not concede that Pedro Espada is the Senate president. We have offered to put aside the issues of whether the president of the Senate is Sen. [Malcolm] Smith or Sen. Espada," said Sen. Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan.
What happened next was equally incredible. With the Democrats in their seats, the Republicans marched in and tried to take the podium. They were rebuffed, so they held a session from the well of the chamber and passed dozens of bills by acclamation.
The odd thing was when Republican senators start the session with the pledge of allegiance. The Democrats didn't stand to participate and when one tried to stand, he was pulled down.
After the Republicans gaveled out, the Democrats gaveled in their special session. The problem was Sen. Smith said they couldn't proceed because they didn't have the governor's bills
The big question is when or if they'll ever be able to pass anything.
"At this time, no one in this chamber is holding the governor's business back, other than the governor's office not having the material needed on time," Smith said.
Paterson was furious. His aides said the bills were sent to the Senate chamber at 1 p.m.
"I've been a public servant for over 20 years and what I've seen in the last two weeks in the Senate disgusts me. Their inaction is a dereliction of duty. I pledge as governor there will be no more tolerance of these delays and these distractions."
Paterson said this week that he would call special legislative sessions every day, including on weekends and holidays, until the two sides could come to an agreement. Senators would have to attend such sessions, but they would not have to vote on any bills. Who would preside over the sessions remains unclear.
Paterson has lashed out at senators for the ongoing soap opera. It's been two weeks since the state Senate accomplished anything and the governor said enough is enough.
But his mandate seemed to make little impact considering Tuesday's madness.
Meanwhile, the Assembly adjourned at 2 a.m. Tuesday after passing hundreds of bills. Most of the measures have companion bills pending in the Senate.
Those affected by the delay include Mayor Michael Bloomberg and all New York City residents.
He's pushing for a renewal of mayoral control of city schools, citing recent favorable performance data. Like so many other local officials across the Empire State, Bloomberg is anxiously waiting for a break in the legislative deadlock.
"I think everybody understands that mayoral control really has been the key to all of this," Bloomberg said. "It has given us the ability to make the tough decisions and hold people accountable for results."
racehorse
The fate of the schools being held up like this is making me sick. We have finally seen a system put in place that is leading to progress in our schools, and these guys are getting dangerously close to letting the whole thing expire on the 30th.
Every day I read about this story I get more disgusted with both parties, and more convinced that their is no fundamental difference between our two major parties when it comes to good government.
I think the NY Post got it right with their front cover today:
Every day I read about this story I get more disgusted with both parties, and more convinced that their is no fundamental difference between our two major parties when it comes to good government.
I think the NY Post got it right with their front cover today:
"You'll get used to my babbling, all the others have." - Anna Madrigal from "Tales Of The City" by Armistead Maupin-
Lastmartian
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/nyreg ... nted=print
July 10, 2009
Albany Impasse Ends as Defector Rejoins Caucus
By DANNY HAKIM
ALBANY — The bitter standoff that has paralyzed the New York Senate for five weeks ended on Thursday, when a senator who had defected to the Republicans returned to the Democratic fold, giving the party the majority it needed to re-establish control.
Senate leaders, sounding by turns apologetic, fatigued and self-congratulatory, started Thursday night to pass the scores of bills they had neglected during the leadership struggle.
The stalemate had prompted anger from voters and local officials, and denunciation from newspapers across the state.
“To all 19.5 million people in the state of New York, we apologize,” Senator John L. Sampson, a Brooklyn Democrat, said at a news conference. “Sometimes you have a dysfunctional family, dysfunctional family members, but at the end of the day, we understand that we are all one family and we are all home now. Home to stay.”
Bills that await action include a measure that would extend mayoral control of the New York City school system.
As they resumed the majority, the Democrats announced a new leadership arrangement under which Pedro Espada Jr., the Bronx Democrat who had joined with the Republicans last month, will be given the title of majority leader. Mr. Sampson will serve as leader of the Democratic caucus, and Malcolm A. Smith of Queens will be the Senate’s president for what several senators described as a transition period of an undetermined length.
The duties of the three leaders were still unclear Thursday evening.
Mr. Espada’s defection on June 8 threw the Senate into turmoil and hobbled the state government, making the body a national laughingstock as the feuding factions shouted and gaveled over each other in simultaneous legislative sessions. It led Gov. David A. Paterson to take the extraordinary step this week of appointing a lieutenant governor, Richard Ravitch, to clarify the state’s line of succession, though it is far from clear that the governor had the authority to do so. Republicans are challenging the appointment.
Mr. Espada said he had ended his 31-day alliance with the Republicans because he had become convinced that Democrats were committed to overhauling the Senate and making it operate more fairly and efficiently. He characterized the intense battle that had consumed the Capitol as a family feud.
“Sometimes best friends fight,” Mr. Espada said, adding: “I never left home. I had a little leave of absence. My brothers and sisters welcomed me back, and we come back stronger than ever.”
But it appears that Mr. Espada may have been driven to make a deal to return as majority leader out of fear of being marginalized, because a separate Democratic faction was moving to establish a power-sharing deal with the Republicans.
Indeed, the Democrats have become increasingly polarized, often along racial lines. Mr. Espada and other Hispanic senators have pushed for more influence from Mr. Smith and Mr. Sampson, who are black.
Separately, the faction of seven white Democrats, led by Senator Jeffrey D. Klein of the Bronx, that had sought the power-sharing deal with the Republicans is especially uneasy with Mr. Espada, who faces investigations related to nonprofit health clinics he runs, his campaign finance practices and whether his primary residence is in the Bronx. Any arrangement they reached with Republicans would probably have pushed Mr. Espada aside.
Faced with that possibility, Mr. Espada returned to the Democrats in exchange for a job whose power beyond its title is difficult to discern. The titles of Senate president and majority leader have traditionally been combined; the president is vested with special powers in the state’s Constitution, and the majority leader is not.
As majority leader, Mr. Espada will receive a bonus on top of his regular legislator’s salary.
Senator Hiram Monserrate, a Queens Democrat who initially sided with the Republicans along with Mr. Espada, played a key role in persuading his colleagues to allow Mr. Espada to return.
Dean G. Skelos, the leader of the Senate Republicans, speculated that the Democratic caucus would break apart again.
“This is my prediction,” Mr. Skelos said at his own news conference, his caucus surrounding him. “Within a few months, maybe six months, there is going to be so much discord within that conference that we’re going to be running the Senate, all right?”
He added: “There are so many factions there that would like to, quite honestly, slit the other factions’ throat. I think it’s going to be very, very difficult to lead and govern.”
The month of inaction has been frustrating in Albany. New York City lost $60 million in tax revenue because the Senate did not pass a planned authorization for a sales tax increase; the bill was expected to be taken up early Friday morning. The City of Yonkers faced a budget crisis because the Senate impasse held up revenue bills critical to having its budget certified.
Senators were uncertain Thursday when or whether several high-profile issues stalled by the leadership battle, including same-sex marriage and changes in rent control laws, would be taken up. The regular legislative session ended on June 22.
Mr. Paterson has kept the Senate in special session each of the last 17 days, including the Fourth of July, in an effort to increase pressure and end the stalemate. He also encouraged the state comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, to withhold senators’ pay.
“I’m very happy, as the senators are, that they’ve reached an end to their conflict,” the governor said late Thursday. “We are going to have to restore that to even attempt to win back the trust of the people of this state.”
Mr. Paterson also raised the specter of calling the Legislature back again this summer to address the latest hole in the budget, which he said could be $500 million to $800 million. That underscored the reality that the Senate’s deadlock took place amid a particularly perilous financial climate.
Even as the stalemate ended, disputes continued among the parties about how the Senate should be run. Democrats were noncommittal Thursday about adopting rule changes Republicans had tried to pass intended to equalize the budgets and legislative earmarks available to senators from the minority party.
“I believe there is a success story to be told,” Mr. Skelos said, “that we made them focus in a lot more on the rules changes we made.”
Democrats were skeptical of claims of reform from a party that had hoarded resources during the more than four decades it controlled the Senate. As Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, a Manhattan Democrat, put it, “When you sell your soul and the check bounces, that’s a bad day.”
--
Jeremy W. Peters contributed reporting.
July 10, 2009
Albany Impasse Ends as Defector Rejoins Caucus
By DANNY HAKIM
ALBANY — The bitter standoff that has paralyzed the New York Senate for five weeks ended on Thursday, when a senator who had defected to the Republicans returned to the Democratic fold, giving the party the majority it needed to re-establish control.
Senate leaders, sounding by turns apologetic, fatigued and self-congratulatory, started Thursday night to pass the scores of bills they had neglected during the leadership struggle.
The stalemate had prompted anger from voters and local officials, and denunciation from newspapers across the state.
“To all 19.5 million people in the state of New York, we apologize,” Senator John L. Sampson, a Brooklyn Democrat, said at a news conference. “Sometimes you have a dysfunctional family, dysfunctional family members, but at the end of the day, we understand that we are all one family and we are all home now. Home to stay.”
Bills that await action include a measure that would extend mayoral control of the New York City school system.
As they resumed the majority, the Democrats announced a new leadership arrangement under which Pedro Espada Jr., the Bronx Democrat who had joined with the Republicans last month, will be given the title of majority leader. Mr. Sampson will serve as leader of the Democratic caucus, and Malcolm A. Smith of Queens will be the Senate’s president for what several senators described as a transition period of an undetermined length.
The duties of the three leaders were still unclear Thursday evening.
Mr. Espada’s defection on June 8 threw the Senate into turmoil and hobbled the state government, making the body a national laughingstock as the feuding factions shouted and gaveled over each other in simultaneous legislative sessions. It led Gov. David A. Paterson to take the extraordinary step this week of appointing a lieutenant governor, Richard Ravitch, to clarify the state’s line of succession, though it is far from clear that the governor had the authority to do so. Republicans are challenging the appointment.
Mr. Espada said he had ended his 31-day alliance with the Republicans because he had become convinced that Democrats were committed to overhauling the Senate and making it operate more fairly and efficiently. He characterized the intense battle that had consumed the Capitol as a family feud.
“Sometimes best friends fight,” Mr. Espada said, adding: “I never left home. I had a little leave of absence. My brothers and sisters welcomed me back, and we come back stronger than ever.”
But it appears that Mr. Espada may have been driven to make a deal to return as majority leader out of fear of being marginalized, because a separate Democratic faction was moving to establish a power-sharing deal with the Republicans.
Indeed, the Democrats have become increasingly polarized, often along racial lines. Mr. Espada and other Hispanic senators have pushed for more influence from Mr. Smith and Mr. Sampson, who are black.
Separately, the faction of seven white Democrats, led by Senator Jeffrey D. Klein of the Bronx, that had sought the power-sharing deal with the Republicans is especially uneasy with Mr. Espada, who faces investigations related to nonprofit health clinics he runs, his campaign finance practices and whether his primary residence is in the Bronx. Any arrangement they reached with Republicans would probably have pushed Mr. Espada aside.
Faced with that possibility, Mr. Espada returned to the Democrats in exchange for a job whose power beyond its title is difficult to discern. The titles of Senate president and majority leader have traditionally been combined; the president is vested with special powers in the state’s Constitution, and the majority leader is not.
As majority leader, Mr. Espada will receive a bonus on top of his regular legislator’s salary.
Senator Hiram Monserrate, a Queens Democrat who initially sided with the Republicans along with Mr. Espada, played a key role in persuading his colleagues to allow Mr. Espada to return.
Dean G. Skelos, the leader of the Senate Republicans, speculated that the Democratic caucus would break apart again.
“This is my prediction,” Mr. Skelos said at his own news conference, his caucus surrounding him. “Within a few months, maybe six months, there is going to be so much discord within that conference that we’re going to be running the Senate, all right?”
He added: “There are so many factions there that would like to, quite honestly, slit the other factions’ throat. I think it’s going to be very, very difficult to lead and govern.”
The month of inaction has been frustrating in Albany. New York City lost $60 million in tax revenue because the Senate did not pass a planned authorization for a sales tax increase; the bill was expected to be taken up early Friday morning. The City of Yonkers faced a budget crisis because the Senate impasse held up revenue bills critical to having its budget certified.
Senators were uncertain Thursday when or whether several high-profile issues stalled by the leadership battle, including same-sex marriage and changes in rent control laws, would be taken up. The regular legislative session ended on June 22.
Mr. Paterson has kept the Senate in special session each of the last 17 days, including the Fourth of July, in an effort to increase pressure and end the stalemate. He also encouraged the state comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, to withhold senators’ pay.
“I’m very happy, as the senators are, that they’ve reached an end to their conflict,” the governor said late Thursday. “We are going to have to restore that to even attempt to win back the trust of the people of this state.”
Mr. Paterson also raised the specter of calling the Legislature back again this summer to address the latest hole in the budget, which he said could be $500 million to $800 million. That underscored the reality that the Senate’s deadlock took place amid a particularly perilous financial climate.
Even as the stalemate ended, disputes continued among the parties about how the Senate should be run. Democrats were noncommittal Thursday about adopting rule changes Republicans had tried to pass intended to equalize the budgets and legislative earmarks available to senators from the minority party.
“I believe there is a success story to be told,” Mr. Skelos said, “that we made them focus in a lot more on the rules changes we made.”
Democrats were skeptical of claims of reform from a party that had hoarded resources during the more than four decades it controlled the Senate. As Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, a Manhattan Democrat, put it, “When you sell your soul and the check bounces, that’s a bad day.”
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Jeremy W. Peters contributed reporting.
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