By JUDY RATTNER
It was unclear on Monday afternoon why the revolt occurred, or what the consequences of what some were calling a "new coalition" of power would be. Within an hour of the overthrow, that followed a raucous leadership fight on the Senate floor, it was reported that Sen. Dean Skelos was named majority leader and vice president of the Senate. Espada was named temporary president of the Senate.
So many issues, from same-sex marriage to budget revisions, from increased cigarette taxes to Belmont Racetrack area redevelopment, from the already approved MTA payroll tax to other hot-button issues for both parties and all residents, were all thrown into even greater confusion than they already were in the five-month old Democratic majority-led senate. "A new bipartisan coalition elected today has delivered on the promises for reform that the Senate Democratic leadership failed to keep," Skelos said in a statement. "The new rules adopted today will create a more open, bipartisan, transparent and member-driven body that will take dramatic new steps to end Albany dysfunction."
Skelos accused Democrats of sowing more of the seeds of discord that, he said, have become so familiar to those in the statehouse in Albany.
Democrats maintained that the action taken on the Senate floor was in no way binding.
"This was an illegal and unlawful attempt to gain control of the Senate and reverse the will of the people who voted for a Democratic majority," said Sen. Malcolm Smith's aide Austin Shafran in an e-mail message Monday. "Nothing has changed, Senator Malcolm A. Smith remains the duly elected Temporary President and Majority Leader. The real Senate Majority is anxious to get back to governing, and will take immediate steps to get us back to work."
Comments about this story? JRattner@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext 208.
