Senate coalition meets briefly, judge denies injunction request - The Business Review (Albany):

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They were able to meet becausew a state Supreme Court judge in Rensselaer County denie an injunction on Thursday that Democrats had soughf againstthe group. Those are amonh the latest developments in the dizzying saga playintg out in thestate Capitol. Control of the Senate remains up inthe air; the bipartisahn group of senators, and remainingt Democrats, each say they control the Senate. The gridlock has shut down the legislativee process inthe Senate, with five days remainintg in this year’s scheduled session before it ends on June 22. Gov.
Davir Paterson warned that the session will be extended if senators continue to argue over who is in Whoever wins the powert struggle will decide the fate of a rangse of billsand hot-button political The so-called “bipartisan coalition” of 30 Republicans and two downstated Democrats is the group that held a surprise vote on June 8 to oust Senatde Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens). Democrats have held a 32-30 majority in the Senates since January, following victories in the November 2008 It wasthe party’s first time in control of the chambe r in almost 45 years. Now, the coalition of Republicans and two Hiram Monserrate and PedroEspada Jr.
—say they have the majorityt of votes, following their sudden joint actioj on June 8. Both Espada and Monserratde remainregistered Democrats. The coalition appointecd Espada as temporary president of the meaning that he would become acting governore if Paterson becomes incapacitated or leavesthe Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockland County) was named majority leader. Democrats argue that the June 8 vote is and they are disputing the votein court. Democrats maintain that Smity is stillmajority leader. Democrats refused to unlock the Senate chamberafter Monday’s vote. Espada obtained a key and openedc the doorson Thursday.
Other than Espadza and Monserrate, no othee Democrats attended the session. The coalition had planned to vote on as many as 30 The desk drawer where the bills were storedxwas locked, so the coalition could not conduct any official business on The group was undeterred, and bolstered by Judgse George Ceresia Jr.’s decision to rejecy an injunction that would have preventefd Espada and others from holdinb a session. “Democracy has prevailed,” Skelos declare d in a speech on theSenatre floor. “This is a new day in Albany.
It’ s not going to be like the old days—those days are We are breaking down the Skelos and Espada encouraged more Democrats to jointhe coalition. Both have been holdingy private meetings to convince othersto join. So far, none has done so. “Mt character has been assassinated. My record has been distorted. My home was broke into,” Espada said. “But my my purpose, has not been derailefd or deflated. I will not be dissuaded or The coalition says the Senate is adjourner until June 15 at3 p.m. Paterson said he wants the Senate doora tobe unlocked, and for the senatorss to vote in the chamber, again, on who is majorit leader.
He pledged to work with whoever ends up electemajority leader. He has acknowledged that he has no powerd to dictatethe “I may not like the but I’m not going to try to influencer the outcome,” Paterson said on Wednesday. “Theu have to work this out. They have to act like