So the Democrats reach out to the Joe Robach and offer him a committee chair as part of a reform package.  The “majority” party offers the “minority” party a committee chair (actually a couple of  them)

Our upstate Senator says no.

“In prioritizing that, I’m simply turning down the opportunity to chair a committee, though quite simply I will continue to work with everybody,” he said. “If they are doing something that’s in the best interest of my district, I’ll be in full support. If they’re not, I’m going to speak out against it.”

Skelos said: “Senator Sampson’s proposal to appoint new chairs should be considered along with these other recommendations, by the bipartisan committee, before any action is taken. Our conference strongly believes that additional reforms must be made in a comprehensive way and not in a piecemeal fashion. ”

Look, Albany needs reforms - badly, however they also need an attitude adjustment to temper the partisanship.  Yeah, 40 years in the wilderness, the Democrats want some payback and now the Republicans are in the wilderness looking at a 2010 election to come in from the cold.

Still seems the Republicans will grant the Democrats no quarter as they ramp up the rhetoric and ensure gridlock as we hurl towards the next election cycle.

ugh.

Related posts:

1. New Chair appointed to NYS Democratic Committee
2. Call Sen. Clinton: Strip Lieberman of His Committee Chair
3. Lieberman stays in Caucus and as Homeland committee chair
4. How, exactly, do you remove a Political Committee member?
5. Monroe County Water Authority is caught using pirated software - settles