Two Democratic New York Senators, Pedro Espada (Bronx) and Hiram Monserrate (Queens), announced this afternoon at roughly 3 PM that they were switching parties, restoring the republican majority that Democrats defeated in the last election.
Daily Gotham:
Senator Espada is under investigationby the state Attorney General for misuse of campaign funds - specifically, the AG alleges that not-for-profit funds and taxpayer dollars were used for electioneering - and word on the street is bad. Possible prison bad.
Hiram Monserrate stabbed his girlfriend in the face with what is variously described as a broken glass or a broken beer bottle four days before Christmas 2008.
Yes: this is a disaster for our state and for Progressives everywhere.
The New York Times:
Democrats appeared to have lost their majority in the State Senate on Monday in what would be a stunning and sudden reversal of fortunes for a party that has controlled the chamber for barely five months.
A raucous leadership fight erupted on the floor of the Senate around 3 p.m., with two Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens joining the 30 Senate Republicans in a motion that would displace Democrats as the party in control.
Dean G. SkelosGiovanni Rufino for The New York Times Senator Dean G. Skelos, a Long Island Republican, would likely be the new majority leader if his party takes control.
It was a noisy and acrimonious scene on the floor of the Senate as Senator Thomas W. Libous, a Republican from Binghamton and the party’s deputy leader, shouted for a roll call vote, and Democrats attempted to stall the vote by asking to adjourn the session.
Albany Times-Union, describing the takeover as a coup:
The move came after what could only be described as as standoff, when GOP Sen. Tom Libous called for a leadership vote — minutes before the Democrats were about to approve the annual pork barrel spending resolution in which they, in the majority for the first time, took the lions share of money. Libous at one point threatened presiding Democrat Neil Breslin with removal from the dais, the Democrats then said they were adjourning and walked off the floor, and Skelos and Espada were sworn in.
The rules committee is now meeting and committee-head assignments are said to coming forthwith, which suggests that this has been in the works for a while.
New York was supposed to be the next state to enact marriage equality. That's not going to happen now. And from what I hear from the Capitol, the scene is utter chaos.
Keep your fingers crossed for us, Kossacks.
Update, by email, from the office of the still-Majority Leader, Malcolm Smith:
"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. 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."
Man, I hope Malcolm knows what he's talking about.
Another update: Emergency conference call tonight. If you're a Progressive blogger in New York, email me (see profile, plz)