Senate Republicans Appear To Be Back In Control
In a remarkable turn, two Senate Democrats this afternoon voted with the Republican minority to apparently oust Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, as majority leader and return the Senate to Republican control.
Sens. Pedro Espada, D-Bronx, and Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, voted with the Republicans in an unexpected bid to give the GOP the Senate majority with just two weeks left in the legislative session.
The Republicans voted to install Espada as Senate president and named Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, as majority leader, a post he held last year.
Democrats took a 32-30 seat majority after last November’s elections and after months of uncertainty named Smith majority leader in January.
The flip puts in turmoil a number of legislative issues, including whether the Senate would vote to approve same-sex marriages in New York.
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A lucky tenth round punch after being hopelessly behind on points. Question is, did they learn anything for the next fight or are they still stumbling palookas?
Please correct the record:
Sen. Pedro Espada (Rep-Mamaroneck)
its no surprise that democrats represent districts the dont live in, sen. pedro espada, congressman eliot engel
Malcom Smith did not know how to lead and now his party is paying the price. Albany with be better off with Skelos as it’s Majority leader.
sorry guys republican or no republican i don’t make deals
with senators under indictment just to gain temporary
control of the senate…the means don’t justify the ends
its whats wrong with the system
Bravo, consultant. Not only did they sell-out principle when in power, they sell-out principle when they’re out- of- power. It’s a terminal illness. It’s one thing to negotiate, it’s another thing altogether to sell your soul to the devil – even if you’re an atheist or an agnostic – either of which, by the way, is all okay with me so long as one admits it and doesn’t pander mendaciously. I love to see all these phony, hypocritical politicians parked in the front row of St. Patrick’s Cathedral pandering for Catholic votes when long-time parishioners can’t even get up the steps.
I went to sleep Smith was leader I awoke and found Espada and Skelos how in charge. One has to give credit were credit is do. The Republicans have done this before when they ousted Ralph Marino and installed Joe Bruno, now they did it again. I for one think this is a bad deal, one should never make a deal with proven “TRAITORS”, and a Billionaire, the price is two great to pay. But I am not a Republican Senator who learn what it is like to lose the Majority. So they made the deal with ‘TRAITORS” and now claim they are going to “REFORM” the Senate. I wish them the best, but once you deal with ‘TRAITORS” YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM TO STAY IN POWER. I am sure the 30 Republican Senator will sleep well tonight, but when they get up in the morning and look into the mirror they will not longer be the same people they were, FOR THEY HAVE LOST WHAT EVER VIRTUE THEY HAD FOR THE SAKE OF POWER AND A BIGGER BUDGET. But what that said HOW THAT YOU AND YOUR TRAITOR FRIENDS ARE IN POWER LETS GET TO WORK AND MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR US.
VJ Machiavelli
NO MORE SCHUMER
NO MORE PELOSI
NO MORE RANGEL
NO MORE ENGEL AND HIS MILLION DOLLAR HOME IN MARYLAND.
Paterson was quoted as saying that this is an outrage and that he would not allow it!. Then, he said he didn’t think he could do anything about it. Good old Gov, always good for a laugh. Year and a half, he’ll be back in the ticket booth at the Apollo. That’s if Obama doesn’t buy him a Speedo and a smoking jacket and make him Ambassador to Tobago.
Stuff like this would not have happened if Bruno, Spano or Velella were still in the state senate. They would not have been able to broker a deal like this.
No, they wouldn’t. Rather, they would probably join the Democratic opposition if the offer was right.
your right, all 3 of them were not good leaders. What we have now is much better than what we had just a few years ago.
The Senate is interesting the democrats represent districts they don’t live in.
The republicans represents districts that are so gerrymandered they don’t live in them either.