Political theatre plays out in Albany
WIVB Channel 4
Buffalo, NY
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/political_theatre_plays_out_in_albany_090611
ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) – The Senate showdown got physical and very loud Thursday in the state capitol. Neither side is budging, no work is getting done and now a court may have to step in to clean up the mess of our elected leaders.
So where do we go from here?
The new coalition has been put on “hold.”
Friday, a five-judge panel will consider the issue of who controls the State Senate.
Thursday, Tom Golisano told reporters why he got involved in the struggle for power.
Protesters staged a noisy demonstration outside the State Senate chambers, shouting the Senate’s “not for sale.” Critics say Golisano, who once ran for governor and now owns the Buffalo Sabres, made a deal with two Democrats to stage a coup.
Golisano, who made an appearance in Buffalo, proudly says he got involved after the so-called three men in the room controlled the budget process and came up with a budget he couldn’t stomach.
Golisano said, “We decided after watching that about six to eight weeks ago, that we’re going to revert back and try and do something.”
Ellen Kennedy of Citizen Action of New York said, “We’re outraged that someone can buy out our votes just because he’s a billionaire.”
A coalition of leaders against the coup accused Golisano of using his money to manipulate the system.
Edwin Martinez of the Hispanic Alliance said, “Basically take away the voter’s rights by buying these two senators.”
Golisano said, “There’s nothing in it for me, other than the fact that I was born and raised here, created a very successful business organization, and I care about the people and the status of the state.”
The new coalition would be more favorable to upstate interests, according to Senator Dale Volker.
Senator Volker said, “They’re aligned with Republicans primarily from upstate and Long Island, so we now have a fighting chance to get some decent help.”
But others say ensuing court battles and dissension threaten to tie-up the State Senate.
Assemblyman Sam Hoyt said, “If only one house is operational, it means that there’s a lot of legislation that might not get acted on.”
But the two rogue Democrats say a new coaltion must replace the old way of doing things.
Senator Hiram Monseratte said, “Reforms that we have laid out in a very approriate manner that deal with decades and decades of disfunction and unfairness in this house.”
The shake-up comes in the final two weeks of the legislative session. U.B. 20/20 and $250 million dollars of Buffalo school construction work still need approval.
Assemblyman Hoyt is proposing the session be extended beyond June 22nd if necessary.