Politics on the Hudson

The Senate’s new majority says it will hold session this afternoon, despite objections from the ousted Democratic conference and questions about who is in charge.

The new majority, if it holds, plans to have 32 votes to begin passing bills this afternoon. But Senate Democrats, who were thrown from the Senate leadership Monday in a coup, have yet to relinquish power, huddling this morning to figure out their next move.

Senate Republicans, who along with two dissident Democrats are forming a new majority conference, vowed that they are in control.

“We expect to convene and do the people’s business at 3 p.m.” said Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira, on an Albany radio station Talk 1300 this morning.

The new Senate majority plans to pass a number of bills this afternoon, including the extension of sales taxes for many counties. Many of the bills were sponsored by Democrats.

Included on the list are extending sales taxes for Westchester, Livingston, Onondaga, Orange and Wayne counties. A mortgage recording tax in Yonkers would also be extended.

Senate Democrats have yet to file a lawsuit or an injunction to stop the leadership switch, but have refused to give up the keys to the Senate chamber.

Democrats, including ousted Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, were also trying to figure out a way to remain in power, potentially trying to lure back the two dissident Democrats, Sens. Pedro Espada of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens.

Democrats, aides said, have also reached out to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to see if there was anything illegal in the decision of Espada and Monserrate to change sides. One area Democrats were asking to be investigated is whether there was any quid pro quo between them and Rochester-area billionaire Tom Golisano, who helped broker the deal.

But Golisano this morning rejected there was any agreement to help Espada or Monserrate, other than that they would have the backing of his Responsible New York political action committee.

“I’ve been very vocal about what the deal is,” Golisano told Gannett News Service. “The senators that will go for the reform issues and the fiscal conservatism are going to get Responsible New York’s support. Have they received anything, have they been promised anything? No, except our support.”

Gov. David Paterson was expected to address the media this afternoon over the Senate flap. He has condemned the coup, but said Tuesday that it’s a legislative issue that lawmakers need to work out.

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