State Senate control back to Republicans
It appears the state Senate Republicans are in the process of taking control of the chamber again by getting two Democrats to switch parties. Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate appear to be the Dems who flipped, giving the Republicans a 32-30 majority. Dean Skelos will be majority leader again and Espada will become the Senate pro tem.
Republicans sent out a press release this afternoon telling the media to show up for "a historic change in leadership." Then as this was apparently all going down, the video feed from the Senate chamber was cut.
The move apparently caught Democrats -- including now-former majority leader Malcolm Smith -- by surprise.
As of 4:20 this afternoon, there was no mention of the switch on the Senate's web site or Twitter feed.
One of the immediate political consequences of the switch: the same-sex marriage bill now has probably no shot of passage this year.
Update: Malcolm Smith says the flip was "an illegal and unlawful attempt" -- and asserts that he's still majority leader.
Sources cited, in order: Capitol Confidential, Daily Politics, WNYT, Capitol Confidential, NYT
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Comments
Wowza! - and Ohshitza!
... said Mike H on Jun 8, 2009 at 4:25 PM | link
Damn. There goes the Empire Pride agenda. And the entire wedding industry that was hoping they would be recession-proof.
... said abby on Jun 8, 2009 at 4:30 PM | link
#pitchforks
... said Pete on Jun 8, 2009 at 4:39 PM | link
Espada and Monserrate better enjoy their time as Senators while they can, cuz they're gonna get their asses handed to them in 2010 elections.
... said Slacker on Jun 8, 2009 at 4:45 PM | link
I hope those scumbags from the Bronx rot.
... said Erik on Jun 8, 2009 at 10:15 PM | link
Does this mean the Republicans get their extra parking spaces back?
... said Jon (was) in Michigan on Jun 8, 2009 at 10:16 PM | link
I wonder if Kaitlin Cassidy or Paris Hilton were involved in this? Those two kids are always up to something.
... said Barold on Jun 9, 2009 at 8:58 AM | link
@ jon - I just saw a car ouside the capital pull up, get its license plates changed by a man in a suit, then drive away. These guys are certain to busy the next few weeks shuffling offices, locking each other out of places, and having press conferences.
... said Jackers on Jun 9, 2009 at 2:53 PM | link