Politics on the Hudson

When Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira, stepped to the Senate podium to reside over the brief Senate session, he looked in the drawers and found no gavel to start the session.

Democrats had locked the drawers with the bills and the gavel.

So Sen. Charles Fuschillo, R-Nassau County, handed Winner Fuschillo’s eyeglass case. Winner banged the eyeglass case to start and end session.

“He handed it to me so I used, rather than hurting my hand,” Winner said. “I didn’t need a gavel. I just needed something to bring the house to order.”