Dems finally take reins of NY Senate
As btp hinted this morning, two months after election day, after endless haggling with the Gang of Four Three, Democrats finally knew they had the majority at the 11th hour before the 2009 session begins. The deal was announced at about 9 PM on Tuesday.
After two months of chaotic negotiations, the fractious Senate Democratic caucus reached a deal on Tuesday night that will give the party control of the Senate for the first time in four decades.
The biggest local impact will be loss of clout for our recently re-elected gang of Republican Senators such as Joe Robach. Joe, for instance, will no longer chair the Senate Labor Committee. That’ll make him less attractive to organized labor, a major source of his campaign money. And speaking of money, Joe will no longer have the same pot of pork, er, member item dough, to spread around in Monroe County.
Dysfunction reform is a definite MAYBE
Mr. Smith and his staff also said a number of new procedures would be undertaken to make the Senate more transparent and to give its committees real power.
And an Equal Marriage bill is probably OUT:
The issue of same-sex marriage was not a sticking point in the discussions among Democrats on Tuesday, several senators said. In fact, it may be moot for the near future.
Though it does not appear that a bill to legalize marriage of gay men and of lesbian couples will be voted on anytime soon, it will not be because of any bargain, senators said. With several Democratic senators opposed to same-sex marriage, there are not presently enough votes to get a bill through the Senate.
Gee maybe we should’ve elected Rick Dollinger… and David Nachbar… and Paloma Capanna…
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