Republican take back NY Senate in coup

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Courtesy CBS2:

In New York, Senate "Coup" Takes Down Dems

New York State Senate Republicans on Monday replaced Malcolm Smith as Majority Leader after two dissident Democrats switched sides, giving the GOP control, CBS 2 has learned.

The flip of senators Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens gives Republicans a 32-30 edge in the chamber.

Call it a coup, call it a devious plan to change leadership, but at the end of the day Democrats are out of power in the New York State Senate and Republicans were.

[Mr.Phips]

Its not like this is going to last after the 2010 elections.  Both of the Democrats who switched come from 80%+ Democratic districts are will not survive as Republicans. 

[Dan the Roman]

The Democrats are contesting the legality of the act, claiming the Senate was out of session at the time the vote was taken and that Malcom Smith is still Majority leader. They sent out a press release to this effect a few hours ago. That said, Daily Kos is the only place that seems to have bought this explanation. It does seem to have gone through, but we may have a South Carolina 1876 situation, albeit I am not sure how the Democrats can maintain majority privileges when they clearly don't have a majority.

It does need to be pointed out that both Democrats involved in this deal are likely to be in prison by the end of this year, and are both from heavily Democratic districts. Monserrate in particular is in hot water after slashing his girlfriends face with broken glass. Neither will be in office in March of 2010 much less January of 2011.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What idiots. Hope they enjoy their final term.

[Rob]

It does need to be pointed out that both Democrats involved in this deal are likely to be in prison by the end of this year, and are both from heavily Democratic districts. Monserrate in particular is in hot water after slashing his girlfriends face with broken glass. Neither will be in office in March of 2010 much less January of 2011.

haha, sounds like they belong in the Grand Old Party...

[Dan the Roman]

It does need to be pointed out that both Democrats involved in this deal are likely to be in prison by the end of this year, and are both from heavily Democratic districts. Monserrate in particular is in hot water after slashing his girlfriends face with broken glass. Neither will be in office in March of 2010 much less January of 2011.

haha, sounds like they belong in the Grand Old Party...

To be fair a not insignificant segment of the state senate is made up of similarly shady individuals. Their interest however is in being reelected. These two are playing a different game for different stakes.

Also the GOP is clearly not wasting time. They've announced a number of rule changes that make committee chairman accountable to the chamber, give more power to the minority in appropriations, and guaranteed time to ranking committee members. This could be preparing for a return to the minority, but these are all good things that had the GOP done a few years ago, they wouldn't be in the minority now.

Also the Coup happened as the Senate was voting on the direct grants to members districts, which had a balanced $79.7M for the Dems, $8.2M for the Republicans.

[Brittain33]

Similar to the Democrats retaking the Tennessee House of Representatives, and with similar long-term effects.

Kathryn-Jean Lopez at National Review is hailing this as the beginning of the comeback.

[Lunar]

What idiots. Hope they enjoy their final term.

Err... these people might not have made it another term anyway.  Both of them could be in jail by the next election.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

NY state politics for you.

[Eraserhead]

Similar to the Democrats retaking the Tennessee House of Representatives, and with similar long-term effects.

Kathryn-Jean Lopez at National Review is hailing this as the beginning of the comeback.

lol. Wow. Just wow.

[cinyc]

Welcome to the Banana Republic of New York - just turn out the lights and pretend nothing has happened.

In other (obvious) news, the gay marriage bill is d.o.a. in the Senate.

[Brittain33]

In other (obvious) news, the gay marriage bill is d.o.a. in the Senate.

There are strange stories that Thomas Duane wants to join the Republican-led "reform coalition" and is keeping his options open because they will bring gay marriage up for a vote, which Smith was forbidden to do by his agreements.

Not that I expect it to pass even if Duane defects, the Republicans find the keys, AND it comes up for a vote, or that Republicans wouldn't promise Democrats anything to get them to vote for their leadership, but an interesting twist that reflects poorly on Duane's strategic skills if true.

[Brittain33]

Per the New York Times web site:

Senate has been unable to convene because Monserrate seems to be uncommitted and wandered away, breaking quorum.

Espada was promising to call a vote on same-sex marriage early next week to entice Democrats to support his coalition. Duane was considering his options, but as of yesterday wisely decided to stay with the Democrats.

Republicans begged Monserrate not to leave the Senate floor. He ignored them. He says he needs more Democratic votes in his coalition and was out to go find them.

That appears to be his out. If no more Democrats join, he'll say that there isn't enough support for a true bipartisan "reform" leadership and he can't support Espada/Skelos.

In the meantime, will Smith be replaced? No one's talking.

[Brittain33]

NYT reports that Monserrate is back with the Democrats and the Senate is split, 31-31.

[Verily]

I'm beginning to think Monserrate supported the coup just to have some fun and totally screw everyone over before he goes to prison.

[Smash255]

Dems dump Smith for Sampson

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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-posena1612880549jun15,0,2289274.story

[Smash255]

And this saga gets even stranger....

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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/ny-stcoup2412909924jun23,0,3537933.story

[Frodo]

Democratic Lock Seen on 2013 Albany Senate
 
By SAM ROBERTS
Published: June 28, 2009

Albany gridlock got you down? Well, worry no longer, the end is in sight — the State Senate should be back in business by 2013.

An analysis of population shifts since this decade began suggests that Democrats are poised to gain as many as six seats when legislative districts are reapportioned after the 2010 census. That would give them an ample margin to untangle the 31-to-31 tie that has stalemated the Senate for three weeks.

“There is a very large population growth downstate in New York City and Westchester and a very large decline upstate,” said Andrew A. Beveridge, a demographer at Queens College, who conducted the analysis for The New York Times. “Basically, this is a rerun of 2000.”

Redistricting is more abstract art than exact science, though, and Dr. Beveridge’s analysis is subject to several caveats — the most vital being which party controls the Senate after the 2010 election.

[Smash255]

Democratic Lock Seen on 2013 Albany Senate
 
By SAM ROBERTS
Published: June 28, 2009

Albany gridlock got you down? Well, worry no longer, the end is in sight — the State Senate should be back in business by 2013.

An analysis of population shifts since this decade began suggests that Democrats are poised to gain as many as six seats when legislative districts are reapportioned after the 2010 census. That would give them an ample margin to untangle the 31-to-31 tie that has stalemated the Senate for three weeks.

“There is a very large population growth downstate in New York City and Westchester and a very large decline upstate,” said Andrew A. Beveridge, a demographer at Queens College, who conducted the analysis for The New York Times. “Basically, this is a rerun of 2000.”

Redistricting is more abstract art than exact science, though, and Dr. Beveridge’s analysis is subject to several caveats — the most vital being which party controls the Senate after the 2010 election.

With the growth downstate and loss upstate even if the GOP is in charge of redistricting in the Senate (highly unlikely) the Senate is going to become more Democratic.  To top that off the two closest races from last year (likely to be very competitive again) are held by Republicans, the 11th in queens (Padavan) and the 6th in Nassau (Hannon).

 The GOP also has a couple other possible seats on LI which they could be in trouble in.   Skelos is in a Dem leaning district, and although he has been very well liked and safe in the past the whole coup issue could really take a toll on him. 

Owen Johnson in the 4th has been in the State Senate for 36 years and will be 80 this week.  If he stays its safe for the GOP, but with him about to be 80, him retiring isn't out of the question.  The district as a whole is marginal (Dems registration advantage is .83% as of 4/1, though likely to be a little larger by next November) but the Dems bench in SW Suffolk is quite a bit deeper. 

You also have the 8th as a possible competitive seat.  Peter King has flirted with a Senate run and if he does Fuschillo would have a decent chance at running for King's Congressional seat.  Another very marginal district (GOP +.09% as of 4/1, very likely will have small Dem edge next year, probably does now actually).   Unlike the 4th whose bench clearly favors the Dem, the bench in the 8th is much more even

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ny-legislature6-2009jul06,0,3612775.story

[Meeker]

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ny-legislature6-2009jul06,0,3612775.story

Is it appropriate to cry at this point?

[Brittain33]

HOPES FOR REFORM DASHED - BUSINESS AS USUAL - COALITION OF CHANGE AND INTEGRITY DEFEATED

New York Daily News is reporting that Espada is giving up and going back to the Dems. Malcolm Smith is kicked upstairs to Senate President.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/07/09/2009-07-09_end_in_sight_for_senate_deadlock_rogue_democrat_pedro_espada.html

[Kevinstat]

How is Monserate likely to react to Smith being back at the helm?  Wasn't Smith's ouster as de facto Democratic leader the reason Monserate rejoined the Democrats in the first place?  Or will Sampson have more power as Democratic conference leader than Smith as Senate President (Pro Tempore, which basically means Senate President until a Lt. Governor is elected in 2010)?

[minionofmidas]

So, see post headline?

[cinyc]

Meet the new clowns, same as the old clowns.