Republicans Stage a Coup in Albany

in Headline New York News by Adam Peck — June 9, 2009 at 2:47 pm | 1 comment

Courtesy: NY Daily News

Talk about sore loser.

Barely five months after Democrats regained control of the New York State Senate, two conservative city Democrats have apparently jumped ship and launched what is being described as a political coup in Albany.

A vote was called on the senate floor to proclaim Republicans as the majority once again, with Queens Senator Hiram Monserrate and Bronx Senator Pedro Espada Jr. voting with the 30 Republicans for a motion that would oust the Democrats from power.

The move caught politicos and pundits off guard and unsure of what the whole thing means, including current (former?) House Speaker Malcolm Smith (D., Queens). He issued a forceful statement following the vote:

“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.”

The legality of the decision will likely be key in determining what exactly transpired on the senate floor, and what that will mean for the state.

Even if it is determined that the move was illegal or unconstitutional, it is still unclear what Monserrate and Espada will do if Democrats retain control. Party leadership will likely have a hard time dealing with them after what they consider an act of betrayal, but they will need their support if they are to retain control of the senate and move forward with key legislation.

Monserrate is in a particularly poor negotiating position, since he faces criminal charges for assaulting his girlfriend back in November. He was indicted in March, and if convicted faces up to seven years in prison. Many have called on him to resign, and if he does, a special election would be held to fill his senate seat.

It also remains unclear how the decision made by Monserrate and Espada will be received by their constituents. They both come from boroughs that break heavily for Democrats (Barack Obama received over 74% of the vote in Queens, and over 88% in the Bronx, John Kerry 71% and 82%), so they both likely received a significant boost from being on the same ticket as President Obama. If they run for reelection as Republicans, they would face stiff opposition.

The outcome of the coup could be significant for Stony Brook University, as Senator Kenneth LaValle (R., Port Jefferson) had previously served as chair of the higher education committee and was considered a friend of University President Shirley Strum Kenny.

Republicans have also been critical of Governor Paterson’s decision to raise tuition on SUNY students and simultaneously continue to cut SUNY’s budget, although Republican leadership has yet to propose how they would solve the state’s increasingly worrisome deficit.

THiNK Magazine will keep a close eye on this story as it develops, including what it will mean for Stony Brook University.