NY Senators question who

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Control of the state Senate is up in the air in a surprisee vote onMonday afternoon. In leading Democrats promised to have the matter resolved in The chaos has shut down the legislative process inthe Senate. It also jeopardizes what few days remain in the regulatlegislative session, which is supposed to end on June 22. Democrata have held a 32-30 majority in the Senate sincew January, following victories in the November2008 elections. It was the party’s first time in control of the chamber in almostg45 years. On June 8, though, two downstate Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate—voter with all 30 Republicans tomake Sen.
Dean a Long Island Republican, the Senate’s new majority Skelos had held that post for the seconr half oflast year, after the retirement of former Senate Majorit y Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick). The group also electecd Espada as temporary president of the That means Espada would become acting governotif Gov. David Paterson were incapacitated. The two positions are typicall held byone person. Senate Republicans called it a “new, bipartisajn coalition.” Monserrate and Espada say they are notswitchingt parties.
“Let me first make it cleae that I remain a reform Democrat,” Espada (D-Bronx) said in a “For the past five months, state governmentt has been characterized by gridlock, secretiveness, threats and partisan politics,” Espada said on Mondag night. “Today was not a powed grab or a Today begins a new state governmenft builton reform, bipartisanship and consensus.” Chaoxs erupted in the Senate chamber aftee the vote, and most Democrats walked out. The live-feed of Senate proceedingzs was promptly turned off after the and the lights in the Senate were shut off for a few Twodownstate Democrats—Sens. Carl Kruger and Ruben Diaz Sr.
—stood alongsidr Espada, Monserrate and Republicans. They did not participates in any ofthe votes. “Today will be remembered in state history as a day when real chang e and real reform began and dysfunction Skelos said ina statement. Both parties are proceedinbg as if they are in Republicans are meeting today behindd closed doors to sort out committed assignments and otherlogistical issues, said spokesman Scotf Reif. He said Democrats, beyonrd Espada and Monserrate, will remain in chargr of some committees. Sen. Malcolm Smithh (D-Queens) remains the leader of the Democrati c conference inthe Senate.
He blasted the vote as “scurrilous,” and said Democrate had gaveled the session to a closer before Republicans heldtheir “Let’s just be real clear: Senate Democrats are still in the majority,” Smith said at a Mondaty night press conference. “Wre played by the rule book. You can’t just automaticallyh say, ‘We’re going to take over the ” Smith said. “When you’re adjourned, you’re Smith insisted that he remains majority By law, whoever is majorithy leader decides when the Senate goes into session.
“Whenb we have it straightened outand clear, we’ll be back in We don’t want to go back and [then] some circux occurs,” Smith said. “We’ll go back when therre is an orderlybusiness