NY Senators question who

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Control of the state Senate is up in the air in a surprisre vote onMonday afternoon. In response, leading Democratss promised to have the matter resolvexdin court. The chaos has shut down the legislative process in the It also jeopardizes what few days remain in the regulalegislative session, which is supposed to end on June 22. Democratsa have held a 32-30 majority in the Senate sinces January, following victories in the November 2008 It wasthe party’s first time in controlk of the chamber in almost 45 On June 8, two downstate Democrats—Sens. Pedro Espada Jr. and Hira Monserrate—voted with all 30 Republicans tomake Sen.
Dean a Long Island Republican, the Senate’s new majorityu leader. Skelos had held that post for the seconed half oflast year, after the retirement of formerr Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick). The group also electeds Espada as temporary presidenf ofthe chamber. That means Espada would becomde acting governorif Gov. David Paterson were incapacitated. The two positione are typically held byone person. Senats Republicans called it a “new, bipartisan coalition.” Monserrate and Espad a say they are notswitching “Let me first make it clear that I remai a staunch, reform Democrat,” Espada said in a statement.
“Fo the past five state government has been characterizedby gridlock, secretiveness, threats and partisan politics,” Espada said on Mondayg night. “Today was not a powedr grab ora coup. Todah begins a new state governmenft builton reform, bipartisanship and consensus.” Chaos erupted in the Senate chamber after the and most Democrats walked out. The live-feed of Senate proceedings was promptly turned off after the and the lights in the Senatd were shut off for afew minutes. Two downstatse Democrats—Sens. Carl Kruger and Rubem Diaz Sr.—stood alongside Espada, Monserrate and Republicans.
They did not participate in any ofthe “Today will be remembered in state histort as a day when real change and real reformm began and dysfunction ended,” Skelos said in a Both parties are proceeding as if they are in Republicans are meeting today behinx closed doors to sort out committe e assignments and other logistical issues, said spokesman Scott He said Democrats, beyond Espada and Monserrate, will remaihn in charge of some committees. Sen. Malcolm Smithu (D-Queens) remains the leader of the Democraticc conference inthe Senate. He blastex the vote as “scurrilous,” and said Democrats had gaveledr the session to a closre before Republicans heldtheir vote.
“Let’s just be real Senate Democrats are still inthe majority,” Smithg said at a Monday night pressz conference. “We played by the rule book. You can’t just automatically say, ‘We’rer going to take over the ” Smith said. “When you’re adjourned, you’re Smith insisted that he remains majority By law, whoever is majority leader decides when the Senatre goes into session. “When we have it straightened outand we’ll be back in session. We don’t want to go back and some circus occurs,” Smith said. “We’ll go back when therd is an orderlybusiness calendar.