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Republicans Seize Control of New York State Senate

Don't Tase Me Bro

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You gotta love down and dirty politics. Unbelievable. No real details as to what caused the defections yet of these two Democrat Senators in NYC. Perhaps the outlandish tax increases by the governor and irresponsible governance altogether of the newly elected Senate leadership finally boiled over the pot. It didn't take long either. The Democrats have only controlled the NY State Senate for five months and their coalition has already shattered. There's hope and change for you.

Updated, 5:14 p.m. | ALBANY – Republicans 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.

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.

The New York Times
 
Meh, sounds like run of the mill crap we tend to expect out of Albany. Im going to guess that there is money involved.

Somebody's been promised something, that is for certain. Also, those two Democrats that defected are already in trouble for some political and legal mischief so this may not last very long.
 
Somebody's been promised something, that is for certain. Also, those two Democrats that defected are already in trouble for some political and legal mischief so this may not last very long.

Your probably right, there is supposed to be a Tea Party scheduled on the 16 there makes me wonder if we will see them or any of the clowns there taken away in cuffs.
 
Somebody's been promised something, that is for certain. Also, those two Democrats that defected are already in trouble for some political and legal mischief so this may not last very long.

And of course, this is true because the NYT told you so, if it would have been repubs defecting, like Spector, - you would be patting them on the back.:wink2::2funny:
 
Meh, sounds like run of the mill crap we tend to expect out of Albany. Im going to guess that there is money involved.
Money in Albany politics?

That happens? I thought you had to go to Chicago or Louisiana for that sort of naked corruption.

Whodathunkit?
 
Money in Albany politics?

That happens? I thought you had to go to Chicago or Louisiana for that sort of naked corruption.

Whodathunkit?

Don't knock Louisiana. You won't find another place on the planet where a porn star is running for Senator against an incumbent that pays prostitutes to put diapers on him. At least when politicians become corrupt in Louisiana, they do it in an outlandish manner that can be matched by nobody else. Eat your hearts out, New Yorkers. Youse guys is just plain dull. LOL.
 
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Don't knock Louisiana. You won't find another place on the planet where a porn star is running for Senator against an incumbent that pays prostitutes to put diapers on him. At least when politicians become corrupt in Louisiana, they do it in an outlandish manner that can be matched by nobody else. Eat your hearts out, New Yorkers. Youse guys is just plain dull. LOL.
Why do you think I referenced naked corruption? ;)

Laissez bon temps rouler!
 
And of course, this is true because the NYT told you so, if it would have been repubs defecting, like Spector, - you would be patting them on the back.:wink2::2funny:

If it was the GOP defecting, this thread would be about six miles long by now.

The silence from the left about their own corruption is shameful.
 
Don't knock Louisiana. You won't find another place on the planet where a porn star is running for Senator against an incumbent that pays prostitutes to put diapers on him. At least when politicians become corrupt in Louisiana, they do it in an outlandish manner that can be matched by nobody else. Eat your hearts out, New Yorkers. Youse guys is just plain dull. LOL.

Sure you do. Italy. They have had pornstars elected decades ago. As for politicians having nakkid women around them for sex games... you read the newspapers lately about what is happening in Italy? :)
 
Sure you do. Italy. They have had pornstars elected decades ago. As for politicians having nakkid women around them for sex games... you read the newspapers lately about what is happening in Italy? :)
Berlusconi is a god. :2razz:
 
The only reason Chicago beats us is because of Blago, at the very least Spitzer left when he got caught.
At the very least Spitzer got caught in a proper scandal involving prostitutes.

Blago--who'd he get caught with? Roland Burris?
 
Is the Conservative trend taking hold already? Obama still has 3+ years to stimulate the Republicans. He's doing a good job of that already.
 
Is the Conservative trend taking hold already? Obama still has 3+ years to stimulate the Republicans. He's doing a good job of that already.

Stimulating Republicans? OMG - Another Democrat in the Oval Office, another sex scandal. :mrgreen:
 
Now to stir the pot just a little. LOL.

Guess who the party switchers were?

One of them is an accused slasher, and the other one is not only a scammer, but a serial party switcher, who has switched parties before.

Sounds like those 2 are in the right party now. :mrgreen:

Article is here.
 
Now to stir the pot just a little. LOL.

Guess who the party switchers were?

One of them is an accused slasher, and the other one is not only a scammer, but a serial party switcher, who has switched parties before.

Sounds like those 2 are in the right party now. :mrgreen:

Article is here.

This is the second time spector switched too - would you call him a serial switcher?:roll:
 
This is the second time spector switched too - would you call him a serial switcher?:roll:

Yes, I would, and let me add he is also ugly as hell. :mrgreen:
 
Here I thought a "switcher" was someone who sticks his thumb in his butt and the other thumb in his mouth and switches. :3oops:
 
The Dems have now locked the Senate doors stalling any further business.

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.

Chaos Rules The Day In The Capital District - wcbstv.com
 
Ok I just got this email from the state LP describing the Senate coup.

The Coup

What happened? Pedro Espada Jr (D-Bronx) and Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens)
decided to caucus with the Republicans to form a Republican majority.
The 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 prior to the election.

A resolution electing the new leadership was introduced at 3pm, and
ruled out of order by the senator presiding over the chamber, Neil
Breslin (D-Albany). Sen. Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) then shouted for a
roll-call vote on that order, which, after considerable legal huddling
by Democrats, was permitted. In the far corner of the room, Espada and
Monserrate, his seat-mate, rose to join the Republicans on the other
side of the chamber.

At that point, trying to stop the vote, Breslin declared the session
adjourned and stormed out. Power and internet service were turned off,
and 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." Guards
threatened to lock the door. Down the hall, state troopers began
guarding the Democrats in a closed-door strategy session.

At that point, Libous secured a vote to put Sen. George Winner
(R-Elmira) in charge of the proceedings. The remaining 32 members -- a
majority in the 62-member house -- then ruled the move by Democrats to
adjourn out of order. They gaveled back in, pushed through the
leadership change and swore in the new leaders. Five minutes later, the
power was restored, and revealed the deposed Democratic leadership in
the Senate replaced by its new authorities.

However, the Democrats refused to accept the vote, and claim they are
still lawfully in charge. Secretary of the Senate Angelo Aponte, a
Democrat, has locked the chamber and refuses to surrender the keys. The
Democrats have vowed to keep the Senate from meeting unless their
leadership is reinstated. They plan to challenge the vote in court. The
Republicans say they will simply meet elsewhere, outdoors if necessary.

Who else is reminded of the coup that ended the Soviet Union? Guess we
still have the most dysfunctional state government in the country.
Business as usual for New York politics -- as Senator Betty Little
(R-Glens Falls) put it, "The biggest surprise is that the plan wasn’t
leaked ahead of time."


Rules Changes

The new majority passed some rules changes, including term limits for
Senate leadership positions, measures to equalize earmark, staff and
resource allocations, and a provision allowing a majority of Senators to
bring legislation to the floor for a vote -- previously the Senate
leadership controlled the process. Many of these changes were sought by
Paychex founder and billionaire Tom Golisano.

Full list of rules changes:
Skelos’s statement + rules changes - New York Politics Capitol Confidential - Albany Times Union - timesunion.com


Effect of Stalled Legislation

The state legislature must approve any county sales tax over 3% every
two years. Many counties, including Monroe County, charge 4%. If the
Senate does not reconvene before the session ends June 22nd, many
counties will face budget shortfalls.

Paterson complained that the battle stalls progress on legislation he
wants to cap state spending, curb property tax increases by local
governments and allow same sex marriages.

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. Bloomberg has given New York State Republican Senate campaign
committees more than $1.3 million since 2003, according to New York
State Board of Elections records.

The new majority has released a calendar of bills to be voted upon -- if
they're able to meet somewhere other than the Senate chambers. The list
includes authorization for 10 counties to increase sales taxes, allowing
tax-increment bonds backed by property taxes levied by school districts,
and authorizing Westchester County to sell bonds through electronic
bidding in a three-year pilot program. There is no companion
tax-increment bond bill in the Assembly.

A number of gun control bills had passed the Assembly and appeared
likely to pass the Senate, but appear to be dead at this time.
Interestingly, the media has been completely silent regarding these
bills, even as they detail the many other bills now in doubt.


Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano claims his PAC, Responsible New York, played a major role
in the coup. "Responsible New York, particularly Steve Pidgeon. We went
to work and Steve brought these factions together over a period of six
or seven weeks and today was culminated by the announcement that we have
a new majority leader in the Senate and they passed these reforms like,
easy," Golisano said.

Mr. Golisano played a role in negotiating original deal under which
Espada and Monserrate -- along with Ruben Díaz (D-Bronx) and Senator
Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) -- gave their support to Mr. Smith. The deal
included making Espada Senate President, but other Democrats refused to
go along with the plan. The rules changes were also a priority for Tom
Golisano. G. Steve Pigeon, his political advisor, said Monday that
Golisano felt betrayed by Smith because the Democratic leader had not
delivered the overhaul of Senate rules he had promised upon taking
power. "He feels very strongly that he backed Malcolm Smith, and Smith
didn’t keep his word, and didn’t make the changes he said he would,"
said Pigeon. "What you will see now is power-sharing, real reform."

Golisano spent more than $4 million last fall helping Democrats take the
Senate. After becoming disillusioned with the Senate Democrats, he and
Pigeon spent several weeks helping the Republicans with the planned
coup. Sources say planning for the coup began six weeks ago in an Albany
bar called Red Square, in a meeting involving Pigeon, other Golisano
advisers, Skelos and Libous. By last week, Espada and Monserrate were on
board. In a town that can’t keep a secret, this one was amazing: even
rank-and-file Republicans were not told what would happen Monday.

"It was obvious to us they weren’t going to keep their commitment, and
that was very bad for New York State," Golisano said of Senate Democrats
in an interview. He called Monday "a great day for New York," and said
his disappointment with his financial investment with the Senate
Democrats helped force Monday’s coup. "It didn’t materialize," Golisano
said of the donations he thought would fuel change in Albany.

for Liberty,

Chris Edes
State Chair
 
The only reason Chicago beats us is because of Blago, at the very least Spitzer left when he got caught.

No.

Illinois (not Chicago, a city) beats every other state hands down for corruption. They managed to spawn Blago while still having a former governor in jail for corruption, not to mention the evil thing they sent to Washington.
 
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