Senate awaits new leadership team - Updated
In a further sign of just how fragile the renewed Democratic majority is, the State Senate is at this hour awaiting the arrival of Senator George Onorato from Queens so that all 32 Democratic Senators will be in the chamber at the time of the vote on the new leadership team.
According to the Albany Times Union blog:
The Senate now stands “at ease” to return “shortly.”
When asked where Onorato was, Sen. Antoine Thompson paused a beat and said, “he’ll be here.”
Onorato’s office said someone would call me back when I asked where he was.
Update: Onorato had a routine doctor’s appointment in Queens. He’s just leaving Queens now and he will be back in Albany around 6:30 - 7 p.m., accoding to Onorato aide Janet Kash. So we’ll be waiting for quite a while to see this thing signed, sealed and delivered.
It’s past 9:00 p.m., but the TV camera in the Senate chamber is now filming Senator Stewart-Cousins getting ready to preside over the session whereas for the last several hours it’s only been showing a stained-glass window with the state seal on it. Any minute now, this deal should be sealed.
Update at 9:27 — Senate standing at ease again awaiting an “immediate meeting” of the Rules Committee
Update at 9:38 — They’re back passing a resolution changing the rules, but Dean Skelos asks for a recorded vote by a show of hands. It passes with 32 votes.
Update at 9:42 — Smith introduces Pedro Espada as a “good friend” and a historic moment with the first Hispanic majority leader. He recieves applause from the Dems.
Update at 9:44 — “Adams, Klein, Kruger, Skelos, Smith, Young — ayes 62.” Finally, they’re actually doing something.
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