One week after deciding to side with Senate Republicans, a key architect of the state Senate coup says he’s coming home. A source close to Senator Hiram Monserrate says he will stay with the democratic caucus.
First off: feel free to take him back, Democrats. No. Really. You never really wanted him gone, anyway.
Second: this makes the entire NY Senate thing exceedingly complex. A 31-31 split will mean GOP-plus-Espada keeps control of the Senate… if his appointment is confirmed. That’s up in court today, and if the courts rule against Espada, the lack of a majority by either side puts the NY Senate back into chaos. There’s no Lt. Governor to break ties, you need 32 votes for a quorum, former Senate President Malcolm Smith’s being replaced as caucus leader… it is, in fact, going to be a glorious mess.
It’s even got a national implications: Democratic state senator Darrel J. Aubertine has been talked up to run for NY-23′s upcoming special election. The idea is probably giving his fellow-Democrats heartburn right now…
Moe Lane
Crossposted to RedState.
Aaron Gardner
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Heavy Heartburn...
naraht Monday, June 15th at 2:48PM EST (link)The State Senate may depend on which one of the two flippers gets convicted first. And since both are downstate Dems, the local DAs are probably both Democrats, the calculations get exceedingly complex.
Local links
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/15/2009-06-15_call_em_sens_dumb__dumber.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/12/2009-06-12_monserrates_conscience_is_the_real_key.html
The only guess I’ve got is that the New york Legislature felt that the Illinois and California Legislatures were getting all of the news and they got Jealous.
Gay Marriage in NY
naraht Monday, June 15th at 3:15PM EST (link)My guess is that this entire circus has probably killed any chance for Gay Marriage in New York until well after the clowns have left the arena. Even if both Monserrate and Espada decided to go back to the Dem Caucus tomorrow, I just don’t think they have time left before things finish up.
Also, how did New York end up functionally a tie in the State Senate, when the Democrats have 72% of the House. must be some *truly* interesting Gerrymandering in *both* directions.