Dem Defections Give GOP Control Of New York Senate

ALBANY, N.Y. — Republicans and two dissident Democrats took control of New York's Senate on Monday after the two New York City renegades voted with the GOP to throw the fledgling Democratic majority out of power.

The decision by senators Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens to join the coalition gave Republicans a 32-30 voting edge on hastily introduced measures that changed the leadership structure. Neither Espada nor Monserrate changed party affiliation.

Democrats held the Senate for barely five months after being out of power for four decades.

Shortly after the coup, Republicans named Espada temporary president of the Senate and Republican Dean Skelos of Nassau County vice president and majority leader. Skelos was majority leader in 2008.

Those are the most powerful positions in the chamber. With them, the bipartisan coalition can direct legislation and reassign committee and leadership posts.

Democrats tried to leave the chamber, even turning off the lights briefly, and are expected to challenge Monday's action in court.

The coup throws into doubt the movement to legalize same-sex marriage, one of the major policy issues still pending for the last two weeks of the regular session. Although passed in the Democrat-led Assembly, it is stalled in the Senate. Several Republicans and Sen. Ruben Diaz, a Bronx Democrat oppose the measure.

Another major issue has a hard deadline. A law giving the New York City mayor greater control of New York City schools is scheduled to expire at the end of the month unless the full Legislature acts. Senate Democrats have sought to take away some of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's authority while maintaining overall mayoral control. But Bloomberg and the Senate's Republican conference have been very close on policy and the billionaire mayor has funded many of their campaigns.

Story continues below

advertisement

Sen. Thomas Libous, a Binghamton Republican, secured a vote to put Sen. George Winner of Elmira in charge of the proceedings after Democratic Sen. Neil Breslin of Albany left the chamber with the other Democrats. Minutes later, Espada and Skelos were elected to their new leadership posts by 32-0 votes with Espada and Monserrate the only Democrats in the chamber.

"This is historic," Libous said in an interview on the floor. "There is going to be reform. You are going to see things that you've never seen in Albany."

Democratic leader Malcolm Smith of Queens, who was elected majority leader in January, referred to the drama as "scurrilous action" by Republicans.

"There was an illegal vote taken," Smith said. "Let me be very clear _ very clear _ the Senate majority is in Democratic hands." He said he won't reconvene the session until the coalition drops its challenge to the leadership.

The coalition immediately approved a thick new list of rules for governing the chamber. It adjourned until Wednesday, when it plans to return to run the Senate.

___

AP Writer Michael Virtanen contributed to this report from Albany.

Comments

[RustyPatina]

This silliness about same-sex marriage has got to stop. It's getting in the way of resolving real issues. If you don't want to marry someone of the same sex, then don't. If somebody else does, that's their business, not yours. End of story.

[berrycooda]

Too bad we can't start over and elect a whole new Gov't.
Or at the least, have term limits for Congress.
The more comfortable the good ol boys get, the more they know
how to play the system for all it's worth.

America is changing and it ain't pretty anymore.

[pepperdude]

NY STATE IS A MESS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONLY ONE PARTY HAS CONTROL. BUT TO BE FAIR, IT WAS HAPPENING WHEN BOTH PARTIES WERE IN POWER. WE ARE CURSED IN THIS STATE WITH UNETHICAL LEADERS IN BOTH PARTIES. POX ON BOTH THEIR HOUSES.

[umbrage-taker]

Maybe It's all part of the Grand Old Conspiracy, you know the "Permanent Republican majority" idea. and who is famous for "Dirty Tricks"? These SUPPOSED Democrats are moles. They never were true Dems. (Take a look at Espada's history..... makes you wonder who's voting!) Monserrate is a pretty interesting character. He has been indicted by a Grand Jury and is awaiting trial for felony assault. Did I hear someone say bad apples? Is there any possibility that the other shoe will drop and we will see why these DINO's (Democrats in Name ONly) are climbing into bed with the opposition?

[urweatherman]

Next change coming......NEW JERSEY! Its about time!

[mjtaylor22]

with republicans it is all about them beign in poower.
and they work behind the scenes and closed doors and lie cheat steal and bribe to get in power.
and the dems who went with them it is mor ethan disgraceful.
this same spinelessness is why the dems loose. they cut n run, waiver, i mena the repugnants are buttholes allthe time, you marvel at their consistancy, and too often people are fooled by it as well.

[Guggenheim]

The Dems showed their true maturity when they got all pissy, ran from the room and turned out the lights along with disconnecting the Internet! BWAHAHAHAH­AHAHAHAHAH­AH! Where's all that talk about sour grapes now, libs? Hahahahah!!!!!!

[MiHi]

So, you actually PREFER to see Democracy overruled and a rightwing coup take place?

GTFO of my country!!!!!!!

[urweatherman]

Maybe you should make travel plans! Its the beginning of a tidal wave that will engulf this nation.....

[CrittersRTasty]

"32-30 voting edge"
That's not Democracy overruled. That's Democracy in action.

BTW, it' my country too.

[Guggenheim]

To MiHi: I just love the true exhibitions of tolerance shown by libs when someone says something they don't like.....like the truth about their party. "GTFO" of America because you can't handle the truth? I don't think so, Tim.

[lynettema]

Don't you wonder what these GOPers promised these two crooked Dems? The GOPers named one of them, Espada, Senate leader. What did the other one,Monserrate, get. They both are in legal trouble. Do you suppose they worked out a some kind of deal with the GOPers to get them off - if that is possible? Something is rotten in "Denmark?"

[SharonWantsToTalk]

Libous....Pffffttt Yeah like all that reform you presented in your last 11 terms!? You are out of power for 5 months and you have to stage some ridiculous coup? Shows what kind of sleazy politician you really are. You are so used to getting everything you want, you can't stand the fact that you might actually have to work for your pay. Your in bed with every money player in the Susqehanna region. It really sucks that you are my Senator because you don't represent anything I believe in. I really hope your arrogance and greed bring you down one day.

[bighat]

Maybe the 2 democrats decided to listen to their constitutents instead of towing the party line. This is hilarious. Dems outsmarted. Bob turn off the lights. Sam turn off the internet. Get those cameras out of here. Dave call my lawyer. Can they do this. I was going out for drinks with of Spitzer's recommendations. Darn

[BlackWidowPilot]

Best not boast overmuch:

http://www.republicanoffenders.com

More like birds of a feather from where this independent is sitting....

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[peacegurl48]

This should be a wake-up call to Democrats...don't get complacent.

The mess we're in is because the greedy, self serving GOP waged war not just in Iraq but on the American people while catering to corporate interests. More and More Americans realize that each day and the hateful rheotoric of the right brings the point home.
Don't start celebrating another right regime just yet.

[HonestAbbie]

These cutthroats dont want the Governor nor Democratic rule because they DONT WANT TO PAY
ANY TAXES. THEY JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO ROB AND STEAL AND HELP WALL STREET TO
CONTINUE TO ROB AND STEAL.

Trump and the rest WHINE BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT ANY TAXES, YET TO DO NOTHING WILL
TURN US INTO CALIFORNIA. THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE ARE GOING TO BE IN BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE THE REPUBS WILL LOWER TAXES ON ALL THE RICH AGAIN!

The PUBLIC needs to get some recalls going to REMOVE THESE DEMOCRATS WHO HELPED THE
REPUBLICANS AND ALSO TO REMOVE THE REST OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

These Repub Devils are in league with the same ELEMENT THAT CAUSED THE CIVIL WAR. THEY
HATE ALL BLACKS AND DONT WANT THEM TO HOLD ANY PUBLIC OFFICE. THEY HATE THAT
OBAMA IS TRYING TO HELP THE POOR AND THAT HE WANTS TO GIVE US ALL HEALTH CARE.
They hate the Governor because he means to keep NYS from bankruptcy even if the rich have to
PAY MORE. WHY SHOULDNT THEY PAY MORE THEY HAVE MORE AND NOT JUST MORE; THEY
HAVE IT ALL!!!!!

They complain about taxes but DONT SERVE THE NATION IN WAR OR DEED. THEY JUST WANT TO
MAKE MONEY WHILE THE YOUNG POOR MEN DIE. These ravenous wolves need to be cast down;
they want the nation to return to the WAYS OF BUSH THAT HAVE DAMN NEAR DESTROYED US.

[Greg2000]

What poll??????
What about the Gallup one that showed Obama 58% and the repugn 23%?????

Ignorant and shameless, be all you can be. That's the repub philosophy.

[cimbri]

The backlash from Obama dems is starting to sweep the country. A new poll shows Rs trusted more on the economy. I predict a giant R gain in 2010. Obama will have to turn into Bill Clinton to get re-elected.

[indy100]

Really? What poll is that? A poll given to Republicans, administered by Republicans?? Trusted on the economy? In the course of eight years they managed to destroy a flourishing middle class, kill many small businesses, allow the banks and other coporate giants to commit mass fraud, and put the American economy in the toilet.

[bighat]

Just goes to show that maybe all the news and polls given to us by the liberal media may not be true. Who would have thought a republican coup

[applescruff]

Yes. So easy to forget what the Repugs did for the decade they had complete control of this country its economy,re­putation,m­illitary and our treasury. I and about 78% of this country will be willing to give pres. Obama a bit more than 5 months before we start the great "backlash".

[joetherealist]

What poll was that, the Glenn Beck poll? Or was it Red State?

[Cyclops0823]

First that Liberal haven of California cant scrape together enough change to buy a twinkie...

now, That bastion of Liberalism called New York, cant keep the lefties in power long enough to do anything...

BWAHAHAHAH­AHAHAHAHAH­AHAHAHA!!!­!!

[indy100]

As opposed to Republicans who have been in power long enough to destroy the middle class and drive the American economy into the ground. Good work!!

[Greg2000]

Well put. Those rightwings just are shameless!!!

[BlackWidowPilot]

California has the darling of the "Greedy Old Perverts" as their 'governator," Ah-nold Schwarzenegger. California has been taken for a ride along with the rest of the country -if not more so when one considers Cheney's pals at Enron- by "the party of conservative Christian family values:"

http://www.republicanoffenders.com

Hypocrisy, thy name *remains* GOP, as in "Greedy Old Perverts" "Goring Our Progress" and "Gutting Our Prosperity."

Yeeeeach.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[hellie]

For some reason, whenever I hear Bohner I think of "Gee Oh Pee."

[treboi]

Ok...what's your point *crickets* Oh yeah ur a repube from some red repube state thinking you're better than everyone. Well lets just look at the facts for a sec...

-Nine of the ten states that get the most federal tax dollars and pay the least...they're red states.

-Eight of the ten states that receive the least amount of tax dollars and pay the most...they’re blue states.

-9 of the 10 lowest divorce rates are blue states most are in the Northeast.

-And where are the highest divorce rates? 10 of the top 10 are red-so called-moral states.

-What about murder rates? 12 of the 20 states with the highest murder rates are in the South.

So now that I've brought you back to earth, how about you go back to Mayberry and tell Aunt Bee I want my #### apple pie.

[ruth606]

If things get any worse for California, we'll have to get start getting our phone bill in our mamma's name.

[applescruff]

Oh the liberals that are scared to death of what gay marriage will do and have a Repub Governor driving them off a cliff?

[indy100]

Do Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate actually believe that the GOP cares about or represents them?? Are they not aware that the "base", the hard core of the Republican party is fanatically Christian, white and extremely intolerant of anyone different from themselves? Espada and Monserrate hardly sound like names that fit with the standard GOP qualifications. They have been duped BIG TIME.