New York Senate Democrats Just Got Screwed Out Of A Possible Majority

[Ballygrl]

I have to admit I find this amusing!

http://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-state-senate-independent-democrat-conference-republicans-dean-skelos-2012-12

New York Senate Democrats Just Got Screwed Out Of A Possible Majority, And They're Furious

New York State Senate Democrats are furious today over an unprecedented agreement reached by Republicans and conservative-leaning Democrats who disbanded from their party to form their own caucus.

The move forms a "bipartisan governing coalition" between Republicans and the Independent Democratic Conference, just a month after Democrats won a numerical majority in the chamber.

Under the agreement, Republicans and the IDC will shift control every two weeks between GOP Leader Dean Skelos and IDC Leader Jeffrey Klein. On Tuesday, Sen. Malcolm Smith, a Democrat from Queens, became the fifth Democrat to defect and join the IDC.

The other Democrats, obviously, are not happy about this. On Election Day, they had won several close races that put them in position to take control of the Senate. But Democratic Sen. Simcha Felder, of Brooklyn, soon announced that he would caucus with Republicans, The New York Times reported. And behind the scenes, the five Democrats were working to form a permanent IDC.

Here's a full statement from Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy:

“This is not a coalition but a coup against all New Yorkers who voted for Democratic control of the Senate and a progressive state government.

Sadly, the real victims of today's announcement are the people of our State, whose clearly expressed desire for progress on a host of issues will now be scuttled. Senate Democrats will remain fierce advocates for them and the issues New Yorkers want to see implemented like standing up for women’s health, passing real campaign finance reform, raising the minimum wage and enacting common sense gun laws.”

In a joint statement, Skelos and Klein said the deal “guarantees a fiscally responsible, fully functional Senate that will continue to produce positive results for all New Yorkers."

The move might result in more criticism for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has come under fire from progressives that say he hasn't done enough to help elect Democrats in his state.

[DLR Pyro]

Good for them. We need more politicians like this who have the balls to buck a system that isn't working.

[Karin]

Thanks for posting that, Bally.  I heard snippets about this on the news, but didn't have time to look further into it.  It seems to me that something screwy is always going on in the NY legislature.  You get defections all over the place, transferring control from one party to another overnight.  They must constantly be at each others throats, and conspiring behind each others backs. 

Carl, BSS, Catsmtrods, care to weigh in?

[wasp69]

Heh, bummer...

[Undies]

On Election Day, they had won several close races that put them in position to take control of the Senate.

Translation:  They had STOLEN several "close" races.

This is what infuriates liberals.  They go through so much trouble to lie and steal their way to total control and then **POOF**, it's gone!

This is not a coalition but a coup against all New Yorkers who voted for Democratic control of the Senate and a progressive state government.

What an ego!  What's to say these democrat who have bravely decided to side with good instead of evil aren't doing exactly as their constituents want?

Beside, we all KNOW the folks of New York did not vote for a democrat majority.  It was rigged and stolen in favor of the democrats.  Actually, now things are EXACTLY as the folks voted.