Could there be cracks in the Albany coup? A judge is expected to issue a ruling Monday on just who’s in charge up in Albany. But there’s word that a key player in the chaotic political power struggle may be changing his mind, again.
It would be a flip-flip of monstrous proportions.
Renegade Democratic New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who just last week turned his back on his own party to help Republicans seize power, is apparently changing his mind once again.
That “about face”, according to the Daily News, would effectively create a 31-31 deadlock in the Senate. And further adding to the drama, a New York State Supreme Court Judge could declare this afternoon whether the Republican takeover is legal.
“I’m coming home,” the Queens Democrat said in an interview with the Daily News on Sunday.
Monserrate’s latest change in course comes after a meeting Sunday with Gov. David Paterson, Brooklyn state Sen. Eric Adams and Rev. Al Sharpton at the Georgia Diner in Queens, the Daily News reported.
“I’ve received assurances from my fellow Democrats that several pieces of progressive legislation I support will be brought to the floor for a vote,” Monserrate said.
Montserrat was told that a bill to end vacancy decontrol and reestablish rent regulations over thousands of apartments in the city would come to a vote on the Senate floor, according to the Daily News.
“Under Malcolm’s leadership, they wouldn’t allow that bill to come to the floor,” Monserrate said. “Now we’ll have an up and down vote on that bill.”
Monserrate said Democratic leaders told him Brooklyn Sen. John Sampson would replace Sen. Malcolm Smith as the leader of the Democrats, but Smith would retain his post as Majority leader.
Monserrate and fellow Democrat Pedro Espada Jr. shocked Albany last Monday when they voted with Republicans and ousted Sen. Smith as majority leader. Unlike Monserrate, Espada Jr. has not waverer in support of the voting coalition he has formed with Republicans.
If Monserrate goes ahead with his latest flip-flop, it’ll create a 31-31 deadlock in the Senate, further complicating the issue of which party controls the Legislative body.
Democrats claim Sen. Smith is still the Majority Leader and that Monday’s vote came after the days session had ended. Republicans claim the vote was valid and Sen. Dean Skelos is the rightful Majority Leader. Both sides are leading on the courts to make a decision.
Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara gave Democrats and Republicans until today to work out their differences about who controls the Senate. McNamara assured lawyers for ousted Majority Leader Smith and state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. that it would be “in everyone’s best interest” to reach a compromise.
If no agreement is reached, McNamara is prepared to lay down the law on today. He scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. and plans to make a decision before the 3 p.m. session.
(Source: MSNBC / WCBSTV)
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One Response
Why not offer legislators a “bonus” (the way many private firms do), tied to their ability to pass a balanced budget (state’s have no choice since they can’t print money) by a certain date. Maybe then they would take themselves seriously.
California will probably start defaulting in the immediate future, which will shock other states into getting their act together.