NY Senate gets to work but runs into roadblock
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s Senate stalemate ended Thursday as it started 31 days ago, with a freshman Democrat convulsing the 62-seat house by switching sides and getting a powerful leadership post in the majority.
But it took less than 30 minutes on the Senate floor for partisan fights to emerge, with Republicans initially threatening two-hour debates on each of more than 100 noncontroversial bills.
Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada’s return to the Democratic conference gives Democrats a 32-30 majority for the first time since the June 8 coup. As part of the deal, Espada took the title of Senate majority leader.
Espada’s move came after Democratic Gov. David Paterson’s decision to appoint a lieutenant governor to preside over the Senate, giving his party the upper hand in a chamber that’s been divided 31-31.
“It was never about power, but about empowerment,” Espada said at a news conference.
While the stalemate was over, at first the standstill wasn’t. Republicans decided to slow the voting process because they were furious Democrats didn’t include Senate rules reforms on the agenda. Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos, of Long Island, said the GOP objected to the Democrats’ plan to pass pork barrel spending — also known as member items, money that lawmakers can take back to their districts for pet projects.
After an hour of closed-door discussion, member items were removed from the agenda and both sides developed the framework for a rules reform agreement. Both will likely be taken up next week. Both sides said the rules changes will give individual senators more power to move bills out of committees and to the floor for a vote, among other reforms.
Most of the bills passed late Thursday and early Friday were for local taxes that would keep local governments funded and running.
For more than a month, the Senate’s paralysis stalled action on mayoral control of New York City’s schools, taxing authority in some municipalities and economic development programs.
Paterson estimated that the state’s municipalities lost as much as $150 million during the conflict — most of it missed sales tax revenue — including $60 million in New York City.
“Today really is 31 days of chaos ending,” said Hiram Monserrate, a one-time dissident whose pending felony assault charge divided Republicans and Democrats early in the session. “Judge us not on what has occurred over the last 31 days … but judge us on what we do with this extraordinary opportunity.”
Republicans accepted their return to the minority, where they were for the past six months for the first time since 1965, but still tried to claim some victory. They say the reforms will serve them well and increase the power of individual Senators.
“Upstate is going to be a player,” said Republican Sen. George Maziarz of Niagara County. “We have a conference of 30 strong and with these reforms. … We won’t be rolled over.”
“We are definitely going to reform the state Senate like it’s never been reformed before,” said Democratic Conference Leader Sen. John Sampson, of Brooklyn.
Rank-and-file Democrats welcomed Espada back. That was a contrast to the name-calling of the past five weeks, when many Democrats said they would never serve under Espada in a leadership position. Others called him a thug and turncoat.
“I don’t think any of us have to accept everybody with open arms,” said Sen. Neil Breslin, an Albany Democrat. “He has a right to be in the Democratic conference as an elected Democrat.”
When asked if it was hypocritical for Democrats to accept Espada as one of their own after calling him a criminal, Breslin said, “There is a level of that.”
The self-described three amigos — Sens. Espada, Ruben Diaz and Hiram Monserrate — said the end of the standoff is a victory for Latinos, providing them a greater voice.
“This is a great achievement for our community. The greatest achievement our community has ever gotten,” said Diaz, a Bronx Democrat and leader in the Latino community.
The regular session ended June 22.
Despite landing back in the minority, Republicans argue they’ve helped their constituents by insisting on reforms to give every New Yorker a voice in the chamber. They said any change couldn’t have happened without their actions.
“I’m very disappointed, but in my mind this was never about a power grab, but about reform,” said Republican Sen. Thomas Libous of Broome County.
Associated Press Writer Valerie Bauman contributed to this report.
Related News
Mass. Senate to debate, vote on bill allowing gov. to name interim replacement for KennedySeptember 22nd, 2009 Mass. Senate to debate Kennedy successor billBOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to debate a bill that would allow the governor to name an interim replacement to fill the late Edward Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat.
Mass. Senate again delays debate on bill to allow an appointment for Kennedy's vacant seatSeptember 21st, 2009 Mass. Senate again delays Kennedy succession billBOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate is again delaying debate on a bill allowing the governor to appoint an interim replacement for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward Kennedy.
Mass. Senate expected to debate bill to allow an appointment for Kennedy's vacant seatSeptember 21st, 2009 Mass. Senate to debate Kennedy succession billBOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate is expected to take up a bill that would allow the governor to appoint an interim replacement for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward Kennedy.
Democratic senator says splitting health care bill into separate measures unlikely to workAugust 23rd, 2009 Senator: Single health care bill a better approachWASHINGTON — A key Democrat in the health care debate says separating out the various issues and putting them in different bills isn't likely to work. Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul.
Obama urges faster action on health care overhaul, says 'this is not a game'July 23rd, 2009 Obama on health revamp: 'This isnot a game'WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama sought Wednesday to cast the intensifying health care debate in terms that matter to ordinary people, promising to offer more savings, security and treatment to millions. Assailing his critics, he declared, "This debate is not a game."
In remarks prepared for the start of his prime-time news conference, Obama said he was determined to help the people who write him letters or speak to him at town halls expressing frustration about paying their health care bills or hanging onto their coverage.
NY Senate gets to work after resolving Republicans' threat to delay bills with hours of debateJuly 10th, 2009 NY Senate gets to work after resolving roadblockALBANY, N.Y. — New York's Senate stalemate ended Thursday as it started 31 days ago, with a freshman Democrat convulsing the 62-seat house by switching sides and getting a powerful leadership post in the majority.
Gridlocked NY Senate adjourns after 3-minute session, still no deal in power struggleJuly 6th, 2009 No deal: NY Senate adjourns after 3-minute sessionALBANY, N.Y. — New York's gridlocked Senate has adjourned again after meeting in another extraordinary session called by Gov.
Compromise over California budget deficit remains elusive with IOUs just days awayJune 29th, 2009 Calif. Senate OKs budget headed for certain vetoSACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Senate has approved a Democratic budget that faces a certain veto from Republican Gov.
Calif. lawmakers debate budget fix as state controller warns of IOUs as early as next weekJune 24th, 2009 Calif. Legislature begins debate over budget fixSACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lawmakers have begun a sharp debate about a Democratic plan to close California's projected $24 billion deficit but a quick resolution seems unlikely.
Democrats, Republicans stage dueling sessions in NY Senate as power struggle continuesJune 23rd, 2009 Dems, GOP stage dueling NY Senate sessionsALBANY, N.Y. — Evenly split political factions turned the New York Senate Tuesday into a two-ring legislative circus of sharp words, laughter and jeers, including a derisive "Duh," where Republicans and Democrats dueling for control held simultaneous sessions in the ornate chamber.
NY governor Paterson orders special Senate session to settle power fight, pass critical billsJune 21st, 2009 NY governor orders gridlocked Senate to meetALBANY, N.Y. — Unsatisfied with New York senators' efforts to resolve their paralyzing power dispute, Gov.
Parliament passes too many bills without debate: StudyMay 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Debate is at the heart of any democracy, but a new study says last year parliament passed several bills without any debate at all - and many of them hurriedly. So will the new Lok Sabha to be convened next month after the elections be any different?
PRS Legislative Research, an organisation that aims to strengthen legislative debate, says on its last day the lower house passed eight bills in a span of 17 minutes.
Rates mixed at weekly Treasury auction as 6-month bills dip, 3-month bills unchangedApril 27th, 2009 Rates mixed at weekly Treasury auctionWASHINGTON — Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills were mixed in Monday's auction with six-month bills dropping to the lowest level since mid-January, while three-month bills were unchanged from last week. The Treasury Department auctioned another $28 billion in six-month bills at a discount rate of 0.305 percent, down from 0.330 percent last week.
House Democrats press for speedy debate on Obama health care plan to fend off GOPApril 23rd, 2009 Democrats want speedy health care debateWASHINGTON — Democrats controlling the House went on record again Wednesday in favor of advancing health care legislation while allowing only limited debate, which would minimize the ability of Republicans to wrest concessions on one of President Barack Obama's top domestic priorities. By a 227-196 vote, the House affirmed Democrats' plans to move health care legislation under rules that block Republicans in the Senate from being able to slow — or even stop — it from proceeding.
Hill heading toward confirmation as new US ambassador to IraqApril 21st, 2009 Senate set to confirm new Iraq envoyWASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Sam Brownback has agreed to cut short debate on the nomination of veteran diplomat Christopher Hill as the next U.S.
Loading ...