Times Union, Albany, NY
By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau
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Last updated: 4:54 p.m., Monday, June 8, 2009
ALBANY -- In a dramatic late afternoon overthrow of the Senate leadership, Senate Republicans joined by two dissident Democrats took control of the upper chamber and installed Sen. Pedro Espada as president.
The Bronx lawmaker, who returned to Albany in January after a hiatus, said he is a voice for reform Democrats and that more reformers will be joining his lead. He and Sen. Hiram Monserrate of Queens joined the 30 Senate Republicans to remove all leadership put into place at the start of year when Sen. Malcolm Smith became the majority leader.
Led by an aggressive push by Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, Republicans forced a resolution that resulted in the vote of Espada as temporary president for the rest of this year and of Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre as the vice president.
The Capitol was turned upside down by the move which ends the Democrats six-month tenure as leaders of the Senate.
"I am a Democrat and I am in charge," said Espada who said he could not sit tight and allow Smith to lead the Senate. "We have been in a quagmire since Jan 7."
The plot to overthrow Smith was supported by Rochester billionaire Thomas Golisano, a three-time gubernatorial candidate and backer of several Senate candidates.
Libous was able to install Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira, to oversee the proceedings. He replaced Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Bethlehem, who had been officiating the Senate when Libous raised his surprise leadership resolution. Breslin was taken aback and had a hard time responding to the hand vote of 32 senators calling for a leadership change.
Eventually, Breslin recognized the vote and left with lawyer Keith St. John so that Republican lawyer Jack Casey and Winner could take the stage. After Espada and Skelos were sworn in, Libous won another resolution to restructure the powerful Rules Committee and cancel all chairmanships and committee appointments.
"Legally, we're absolutely assured," Espada said. "This is about getting a government that works."
Clearly shaken, Democrats left the chamber after the leadership vote, although they first attempted to adjourn. That vote was rejected by Republicans and Espada's allies. As the new leadership began their actions, the lights were turned off in the chamber. They were put back on five minutes later.
Republican aides who had been shoved into the minority seemed buoyed by the turn of events as Democrats seemed unsure of what to do next.
Good.
ReplyDeleteThe State Senate is not truly composed of members from two parties trying to respond to their respective constituencies. It is a body composed of a New York City faction (which happens to be almost exclusively made up of Democrats) and those who live outside the city (which happens to consist largely of Democrats). The question is not whether Democrats or Republicans control one body or another. It is whether or not both major populations in the State get a fair hearing for their respective interests.
New York City should not expect to be able to treat upstate as if we were a colony, as if we OWE them water and power and other resources. We owe the City NOTHING.
The only way to protect our interests is if the Senate is run by Republicans, who are far more responsive to upstate needs.
As an aside, have the same Democrat politicians and apparatchiks who condemn today's shift by the Gang of Three to the Republican side also decry Arlen Specter's changeover to the Democrats in the U.S. Senate?
There is a very real question of inconsistency and - indeed - hypocrisy here.
If the Democrats have any integrity they will reject the Independence party line - bankrolled by Gallisano who orchestrated the Senate takeover. Thanks Independence Party - now we have another year of inaction! Don't credit the Republicans; follow the money.
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