Thread: NY Republicans Seize Control of State Senate

June 8, 2009, 3:50 pm
Republicans Seize Control of State Senate
By Jeremy W. Peters AND Danny Hakim

Rob Bennett for The New York Times; Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times

Two state senators — Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens — moved to defect to the Republican side, which would end Democratic control of the chamber.

Updated, 6:20 p.m. | ALBANY – Republicans apparently seized control of the New York State Senate on Monday, in a stunning and sudden reversal of fortunes for the Democratic Party, which controlled the chamber for barely five months.

A raucous leadership fight erupted on the floor of the Senate around 3 p.m., with two Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens, joining the 30 Senate Republicans in a motion that would displace Democrats as the party in control.

In a news conference in the early evening, Senator Malcolm A. Smith of Queens, leader of the Senate Democrats, insisted that the Republican-engineered vote was illegal and violated parliamentary procedure. He said the vote was illegal because it had already taken place after the meeting was already brought to an end.

Giovanni Rufino for The New York Times

Senator Dean G. Skelos, a Long Island Republican, is expected to become the new majority leader. It was a noisy and acrimonious scene on the floor of the Senate as Senator Thomas W. Libous, a Republican from Binghamton and the party’s deputy leader, shouted for a roll-call vote, while Democrats attempted to stall the vote by asking to adjourn the session.

All 30 Republicans stood with their hands raised, signaling a vote for a change in leadership. Mr. Espada and Mr. Monserrate joined them, each raising his hand. Republicans won the vote by a 32-to-30 margin. The Senate will now be governed under a new joint leadership structure, with Mr. Espada serving as the president pro tempore, and Senator Dean G. Skelos, of Long Island, as the new majority leader.

After the results of the vote were read aloud, the in-house television station that carries Senate proceedings live in the Capitol went dark. All that appeared on the screen was a still photo of the Senate chamber and the words “Please stand by.â€

New York get busy on immigration correction or you will go broke

Jun 9, 2009 8:10 pm US/Eastern
Chaos Rules The Day In The Capital District
Democrats Furious Over GOP Coup, Vow To Take Back Locked Senate Chamber; Republicans Push For Work To Resume Reporting

(ALBANY) Aftershocks of the New York State Senate shake up were rippling through the state capital Tuesday. With all the chaos, confusion and hard feelings, many in Albany are wondering who's in charge and what happens next?

Less than a month ago, Democrats and Republicans posed like one big happy family for their class picture, but a dramatic coup to depose Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has left everybody in Albany with a lot of hard feelings.

"I think it's absolutely disgusting, a side show," Smith spokesman Austin Shaffran said. "Senate Republicans should be ashamed."

Smith didn't show his face Tuesday, but sources said legal action is being considered to stop Republican Dean Skelos from becoming majority leader and renegade Democrat Pedro Espada from becoming speaker pro tem, one step away from being governor.

"There are a number of legal options being considered," Shaffran said.

Sources told CBS 2 HD that legal pressure is being brought to bear to step up action against the two renegade Dems who supported the coup -- Hiram Monserrate, who was recently indicted for attacking his girlfriend, and Espada, who really lives in Mamaroneck and has a number of campaign finance violations. Espada is being investigated by the Bronx district attorney and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

"He has an ethical cloud over him … guilty until proven innocent," said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group.

"There's no question he has issues he has to deal with," added Sen. Frank Padavan, R-Queens, added.

There was no work done in the Senate Tuesday. Here's why:

Right now the doors to the Senate are locked, so the big question is whether Dems open it in time for session Wednesday.

"I'm hoping by 3 p.m. tomorrow the former majority leader will realize we have to move on and start working," said Sen. Tom Libous, R-Binghamton.

Republican senators said it's unconstitutional for Democrats to keep the door locked.

http://wcbstv.com/politics/albany.shake ... 37926.html

Boy, don't we wish we had a third strong party in the fight.
Something is in the air... Revolution