Capitol chaos: Senate session short lived
WTEN, News 10 ABC
Albany, NY
http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=10518568&nav=menu30_2
The 30 Republicans and two rogue Democrats who formed a new State Senate coalition on Monday, finally got into the chamber Thursday morning. Not surprisingly, they were not joined by any other Democratic senators and the session, itself, lasted less than a half-an-our.
Three full days after their apparent takeover, the Republicans were headed back to the State Senate chamber. The new coalition had to elbow their way to the building’s entrance, as its perimeter was surrounded by demonstrators, protesting an end to all the chaos.
Once there, the Senators used a key supplied by Senator Pedro Espada, one of the two Democrats who switched sides, prompting other Democrats to shut down the house Monday and lock the doors.
With 32 of the 62 Senators in house the coalition declared a quorum. No tasks were accomplished, however, because all pending legislation was locked in a drawer for which no one had a key.
But even if they had that key no business would have gotten done, because Senator Hiram Monserrate, the other Democratic renegade, announced he was leaving right away.
Monserrate is said to be getting cold feet with the entire operation after reports of pressure against him for helping to oust Malcolm Smith; New York’s first African American Senate leader.
Republican Senators left town right after that, promising to hold another session next Monday, when they might actually take up legislation.
Governor David Paterson told NEWS10 Thursday evening that he will call lawmakers back to Albany if critical state issues are left dangling.
“The dysfunction and chaos in the Senate has wasted an entire week of the people’s business,” he said, adding, “I will convene the legislature in extraordinary session at a date to be announced so that we can finish the people’s business.”