The Gang Of Four
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- November
- 5
As Senate Democrats began conferencing this afternoon at the state Capitol, four Democratic holdouts were holding their own meeting in New York City as they contemplate their own agenda for the 2009 legislative session.
Republicans have already made overtures to the “Gang of Four” to flip to their side, and Republicans are saying that the count in the 62-seat Senate is 30 Democrats, 28 Republicans and four independents.
Here they are meeting today in Manhattan—Sen.-elect Pedro Espada Jr., Sen. Carl Kruger, Councilman Hiram Monserrate and Sen. Rubén DÃaz, Sr.
Some Democratic leaders today were downplaying the impact of the “independent caucus” and saying that none of them want to be labeled as the one who thwarted the Democratic majority, especially when they all represent heavily Democratic districts.
Democrats also pointed to former Sen. Olga Mendez as an example of what could happen if you flip sides. Representing the Bronx, Mendez joined the Republican Party after her election in 2002, only to lose two year later to Jose Serrano.
“Nobody wants to be the one to return it Republicans or turn it into a tie,” one Democratic insider said.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pm by Joseph Spector.
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