Pedro Espada Jr. will hold the title of Senate majority leader. (Photo: Rob Bennett for The New York Times)
Posted on 12/05/2008 6:17:29 PM PST by neverdem
Pedro Espada Jr. will hold the title of Senate majority leader. (Photo: Rob Bennett for The New York Times)
Even as some State Senate Democrats privately questioned a power-sharing deal struck by their leader, Malcolm A. Smith, the three former dissidents who brokered the deal are making clear that they expect him to stand by it.
Under the deal, when Pedro Espada Jr., a former state senator and city councilman, returns to the Senate in January, he will hold the title of Democratic majority leader and Mr. Smith will be named president pro tempore. The two positions have traditionally been held by the same person.
In a joint statement on Friday, Mr. Espada and the two other dissidents, Senator Carl Kruger of Brooklyn and Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. of the Bronx, said the deal includes reforms that will “change the way the New York State Senate has been run for the better part of 200 years” and will “make the New York State Senate one of the most bipartisan legislative houses in the United States.”
The three men said in their statement:
The agreement we have forged is innovative and brings new vision and clarity to the process of government. Everyone will be treated equally, fairly and equitably regardless of party affiliation, which in turn will enable lawmakers to accomplish more for the constituents they are empowered to represent.
Mr. Espada, who will arguably be the state’s highest-ranking Hispanic official, said:
Bringing greater empowerment to the Hispanic community was one of the goals that we stated at the outset of our negotiations, and I am pleased that we succeeded in realizing this goal. I am proud to join Senator Smith’s team in working to assure that all New York State residents receive the resources they need and...
(Excerpt) Read more at cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com ...
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
The dems threw the gays under the bus to get power. LOL.
There will be no gay marriage vote in the NY Senate.
There was a fourth Democrat, who was newly elected, who was part of the dissident group, but he backed down before the other three did.
These 3 didn’t back down did they, they just got what they wanted. Especially Espada.
Like rats anywheres in the world. they are the smartest people in the room, smug, talk down their nose to you, etc.
so fill the room with with these do nothings arrogant snobs and you have a receipt for nothing ever getting done
then your state goes down the toilet but its not their fault
Some confusion here. Since they “split” the title, who is going to serve as acting Lieutenant Governor beginning in January ? Smith or Espada ?
I don’t know the answer to that. Probably Smith.
I think what’s peculiar here is that there can only be 1 leader in the chamber. There’s no provision where there’s 2 and placing them in line to the Governorship (therby moving the Assembly Speaker down a notch). Only one of those men can hold the power, and the other is just a position “on paper.” Whomever is the acting Lt Governor is the one with the real power.
Since there is a reference to bipartisanship, does this mean that they aren’t all democrats?
That’s GOOD; it seems God sometimes uses mysterious ways to accomplish his purposes (though I am not a NYer), and though it would be preferable to have Republicans in charge? I thnk Mr. Espada & crew ought to be applauded by Good God fearing Conservatives, and anyone else that dissagrees with homosexual marriage, in NY!
Thanks for the ping!
It’s gotta be the President Pro Tem over the Majority Leader.
“and though it would be preferable to have Republicans in charge? “
Yes it is. I wish Smith had refused to deal. Unless the GOP wins back the NY Senate in ‘10 or the Governorship redistricting will eliminate any chances of ever winning the Senate. And Republicans could be eliminated totally from the US House delegation.
But at least gay marriage in NY is staved off...for now.
I don’t know why several states don’t allow the Guv to appoint a replacement LT. Governor. Rell in CT got stuck with the rat senate leader until her election. In Illinois the job would stay vacant like the Vice Presidency used to.
But somebody has to call the shots. In a lot of states, the PPT is mere figurehead while the Majority Leader controls the agenda. I can’t see Smith just sitting there and allowing Espada to control the agenda. I don’t see how they’re going to make it work.
Sometimes it benefits us, sometimes them. Mine is the only state in the country where the Lt Governor is elected by the Senate, and isn’t a member of the Executive Branch (and now has its first Republican). I actually prefer it now to having a running-mate-with-the-Governor, since there’d just be some rodent hack in the office.
Well one article says Espada “will control the Rules Committee, through which all legislation flows.”
Smith will be next in line for the Governorship but it’s indeed unclear which will be the real boss. Smith probably thinks it’s him.
Hopefully it won’t! work out. Espada and company forced their way in. There must be seething resentment.
Yeah, if I were a rank-and-file Dem loyal to Smith, I’d be very pissed that a group of relative newbies (and SoCons at that !) were throwing their weight around and making demands. Imagine how outraged we’d be if some RINOs were threatening to vote with the Dems if we didn’t give them major posts over party loyalists in office for years. Let’s hope it really rubs the rodents raw.
Rudy Giuliani might run for NY Governor in 2010. Its unclear whether Patterson will run for re-election. A lot depends on who gets Hillary’s Senate seat. Regardless of who the Dem candidate for Governor will be, it will be an uphill climb for Rudy.
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