The Democrats have no one to blame but themselves. This is all about the gay marriage bill that A. Thompson, M. Smith and the Governor are trying to push for a vote in the Senate. Ove the past couple days it has become more and more apparent that even Stachowski was going to vote for it to maintain”Party Unity”. Well congratulations gentlemen, you have given up your power for a few reasons, simply look in the mirror as to who is to blame.
The deal in the beginning that the gay marriage bill would not be brought to the floor, in the beginning 3 of these Senators were going to vote for Skelos but as long as they kept their promise. Well this promise and the reforms promised never surfaced, all we saw was the growth of pork, patronage, spending and the complete dysfunction of this leadership. Now maybe we will get our representation back that upstate and western NY need so desperately!
Two state senators — Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens — moved to defect to the Republican side, which would end Democratic control of the chamber.
ALBANY – Republicans apparently 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.
In a news conference in the early evening, Senator Malcolm A. Smith of Queens, leader of the Senate Democrats, insisted that the Republican-engineered vote was illegal and violated parliamentary procedure. He said the vote was illegal because it had already taken place after the meeting was already brought to an end.
Dean G. SkelosGiovanni Rufino for The New York Times Senator Dean G. Skelos, a Long Island Republican, is expected to become the new majority leader.
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.
After the results of the vote were read aloud, 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.”
This doesn’t seem to be about Gay Marriage. Its the convenient scape goat. A majority of New York State voters support Marriage Equality. This is about these two Senators, the republican Party and Tom Golisano. It was a grab for power.
Insiders say Malcolm Smith was ready to renege on his promise not to bring gay marriage up for a vote, which started the ball rolling.
I seriously doubt a majority of NY voters support gay marriage, as it has failed in every single state that has voted on it by referendum.
You need to get inside info as I do. I have known the Democrat plans for the gay marriage thing for weeks. Thompson is sponsoring it byu orders of Paterson….
Plus the complete dysfunction in the senate and that is where our fight is. Stachowski and Thompson could have and should have voted against the budget. Instead on orders of the downstate power mongers they do as they are told and this is what we get.
We need to stop the Insanity and if this is how we can do it then so be it. Sign the petition to oust Silver from his dictatorship position as speaker. http://teaNewYork.com
When are we going to learn? WHEN? When everyone is gone and are bankrupt?
A Siena College Poll showed 53% of NYS voters support gay marriage vs. 39% against.
If you’re living in a fairly conservative WNY suburb 53% might seem high but if you live in Brooklyn for example, 53% seems low.
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What I am sure of is that voters overwhelmingly voted Democrats into power. Today’s power grad was an effort by a selfish/desperate minority to subvert the will of the people.
This is a Tom Golisano power grab…his face is between Skelos and Espada at the press conference. Funny, I don’t remember electing him to the state senate, why would he be at the press conference? Because he bought and paid for the 2 democrats to flip, plain and simple…this is a sad day for democracy.
And you KNOW Rus, you would be equally as pissed if you saw George Soros at a press conference of Democrats if the tables were turned.
George Soros? He backs all Democrats just like Golisano did. Look at the candidates he supported last year. Can you think of any Republicans he supported? I can’t.
Golisano is pissed that the very people he supported voted to screw him and us. Ask Antoinne Thompson, how bout supporting Stachowski over Delano.
Problem with Golisano is that he is getting bad advice from Pidgeon.
Soros, Golisano, what’s the difference? They’re all (the politicians) bought and paid for by special interests.
David,
Sienna College? I’m not familiar with them, or that polling group. Do you know of any other polls?
Jul, search for yourself and let me know what you find.
What we do know for sure is that NYState voters elected a Democratic majority for the Senate–and when we did that we knew that issues like Gay Marriage would be ready and waiting for a sympathetic majority. None of this happened by accident or snuck up on us like yesterday’s power grab did.
I didn’t find much except a quinnipac (?) poll had it even at 46% to 46%.
I do know it failed by referendum in at least 30 states, and it hasn’t passed in one. I wonder if New York would be any different.