Amigos Meet (Updated)
The self-described four amigos were meeting this morning for breakfast at the downtown Crowne Plaza hotel in Albany, with talk swirling that Democrats may seek to bring back Sen. Pedro Espada, D-Bronx, back into the conference.
As Liz reported this morning, Democrats are at odds over whether to welcome Espada back to the conference, although he has said publicly he has no interest in doing so.
Democrats conferenced last night and debated whether Espada could be brought back and in what role. Espada would want to come back as Senate president, the role he was voted to in the June 8 coup. But Democrats are reluctant to give him that power—particularly if it means he would succeed Gov. David Paterson if Paterson was unable to continue as governor.
“Would he be welcome to return to the Democratic conference and conference with us? Yes,” said Sen. Diane Savino, D-Staten Island. “But not under the terms that he wants and I don’t believe that we could get 31 people to vote for that.”
The amigos—Sens. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx; Carl Kruger, D-Brooklyn; Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens and Espada—had little to say during breakfast. But Diaz was quick to point out that Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx,was at a table nearby eating with Republican lawyers, Robert Mujica and Stanley Schlein.
Later, the senators told reporters, including Gannett’s Heather Senison, that they think a decision over the leadership battle should be decided by Thursday.
In a news release announcing the breakfast meeting, Diaz said “”I expect this problem to be resolved no later than the end of this week.”
The four amigos first came together last year to debate whether to support Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, as majority leader. They ultimately did, but then Espada and Monserrate joined Republicans to oust Smith in the June 8 coup.
Monserrate then rejoined the Democrats, leading to the 31-31 stalemate.
Updated: After the breakfast, Monserrate said “We are here to find a solution.”
Asked if he will rejoin the Democratic conference, Espada said “I’m just engaged right now with a decisive force that I think truly wants to bring an end to this matter.”
He added that he’s always remained a Democrat, saying “if there’s anyone who’s gaining votes for their position, it’s Pedro Espada Jr.”
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Everyone alive who HAS been or IS a member of any supposed State “ethics” committee or commission should be indicted forthwith and forced, under oath and subject to perjury charges, to explain himself in detail.
Instead of charging this breakfast to the taxpayer can’t these guys use a conference room at the state house for their meeting?
Wassamatta? OJ is $2.50 per half gallon at the Stop@Shop, $6 per GLASS at the restaurant. Before these guys were able to charge everything to YOU, one of them would have stopped at the supermarket for paper cups, OJ, and donuts and they would have breakfast in the parking lot leaning on the hood of a ‘92 Chevvy.