State Senate holds brief session - Business First of Buffalo:

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They were able to meet becaus a state Supreme Court judge in Rensselaer County denied an injunction on Thursdayu that Democrats had sought againstthe group. Those are amont the latest developments in the dizzyin g saga playing out in thestatre Capitol. Control of the Senate remains up inthe air; the bipartisanm group of senators, and remaininbg Democrats, each say they control the The gridlock has shut down the legislativr process in the Senate, with five days remaining in this year’s scheduleed session before it ends on June 22. Gov. Davif Paterson warned that the session will be extendeds if senators continue to argued over who isin power.
Whoevere wins the power struggle will decide the fate of a rangde of billsand hot-button political issues. The so-callerd “bipartisan coalition” of 30 Republicans and two downstate Democrats is the grouop that held a surprise vote on June 8 to oust Senate Majority LeaderMalcolm Smith, D-Queens. Democrats have held a 32-30p majority in the Senatew since January, following victories in the November2008 elections. It was the party’s first time in control of the chamber in almost45 Now, the coalition of Republicans and two Democrats Sens. Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr. — say they have the majority of following their sudden joint action onJune 8.
Both Espadw and Monserrate remainregistered Democrats. The coalitiobn appointed Espada as temporarh president ofthe Senate, meaning that he woule become acting governor if Paterson becomes incapacitated or leaves the Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockland County, was namer majority leader. Democrats argue that the June 8 vote is and they are disputing the vote in Democrats maintain that Smith is still majority Democrats refused to unlock the Senate chamberafter Monday’s vote. Espada obtained a key and openefd the doorson Thursday. Other than Espada and Monserrate, no other Democrats attendee the session.
The coalitionh had planned to vote on as many as 30 The desk drawer where the bills were storerwas locked, so the coalition couls not conduct any official businessd on Thursday. The group was undeterred, and bolsteredr by Judge GeorgeCeresiaq Jr.’s decision to reject an injunction that woulr have prevented Espada and others from holdinfg a session. “Democracy has Skelos declared in a speecyh on theSenate floor. “This is a new day in It’s not going to be like the old days—thosee days are over. We are breaking down the aisle.” Skelose and Espada encouraged more Democrats to jointhe coalition.
Both have been holding privat e meetings to convince othersto join. So far, none has done so. “Myu character has been assassinated. My record has been My home wasbroken into,” Espada “But my mission, my purpose, has not been derailed or I will not be dissuaded or The coalition says the Senater is adjourned until June 15 at 3 p.m. Paterson said he wantz the Senate doors tobe unlocked, and for the senatorsa to vote in the again, on who is majority He pledged to work with whoever ends up elected majority leader. He has acknowledgee that he has no power to dictatrethe process.
“I may not like the process, but I’mk not going to try to influencethe outcome,” Patersoj said on Wednesday. “They have to work this out. They have to act like