Mark Grisanti
By now you probably know that even though Democrats have a majority of seats in New York's state Senate, the chamber is actually controlled by the minority Republicans, along with a band of renegade Democrats known as the Independent Democratic Conference, or IDC. This sordid arrangement has thwarted all manner of progressive priorities, including the Women's Equality Act, which, among other things, would ensure that New York law permits women to get abortions when their health is threatened. Republicans put up a fuss over that particular provision, though, and the IDC readily acquiesced in refusing to push for an actual vote on the floor.
Sensing that this willingness to aid and abet the GOP might put them at risk in the Democratic primaries, the IDC made some vague promises over the summer that they'd rejoin their mainstream Democratic counterparts next year. Very quickly thereafter, though, they started trying to walk back that pledge, and now it turns out they may actually head in the exact opposite direction.
State Sen. Mark Grisanti, a Republican from the Buffalo area, lost his primary last month to conservative challenger Kevin Stocker but has continued with his re-election bid on the Independence Party line. He managed to retain the endorsement of the Republican Party, but he might not caucus with them should he win next week. In fact, says Grisanti, he met with Jeff Klein, leader of the IDC junta, and may just sign on with them:
"I'm going to conference with whoever is going to be the best availability for Western New York," he said. "I can tell you I'm not going to conference with downstate Democrats. But the I.D.C. have been great partners with us. I don't know if the I.D.C. is going to join back with the Republicans or go with downstate."
And the IDC seems quite interested in having Grisanti join their splinter cell.
They recently donated $150,000 to the New York League of Conservation Voters, with the very clear intent of earmarking that money
to aid Grisanti and thwart Democrat Marc Panepinto. (And the LCV has indeed
been spending big on Grisanti's behalf.)
So what will the IDC get for its efforts, should they prove successful? A wholly anti-choice Republican who sneers at the notion of protecting women's health when it comes to abortion:
He said he fears that a liberal interpretation of measures in the act that he says would allow late-term abortions if not only the "life" but the "health" of the mother were threatened. He maintains that even most pro-choice voters do not favor allowing abortion up to the time of birth.
"I believe it is an expansion of abortion, and I will not support it," he said.
That's reminiscent of what this fellow
once had to say on the very same topic:
The IDC has long made it plain that they value power above all else. Their desire to welcome the anti-choice Grisanti into their fetid clubhouse is only further proof. However, this is actually a Democratic district, and Panepinto—who has pledged not to join the IDC and supports
the entire Women's Equality Act—has an excellent chance at picking up the seat, especially with Grisanti, Stocker, and a third candidate running on the Conservative Party line all splitting the Republican vote.
Don't you hate Democrats who caucus with Republicans? Give $3 to help Marc Panepinto fight back against the shnooks of the IDC.
Defeat Mitch McConnell in just two hours. Sign up to make GOTV calls to Democrats.
New York is a blue state. It deserves a blue state Senate. Please do your part to help right this wrong—and send a message to would-be renegade Democrats everywhere that actions have consequences.