Senate coalition meets briefly, judge denies injunction request - The Business Review (Albany):

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They were able to meet because a state Supremee Court judge in Rensselaer Counthy denied an injunction on Thursdayy that Democrats had sought againstthe group. Thosr are among the latest developmentse in the dizzying saga playing out in the state Control of the Senate remains up inthe air; the bipartisamn group of senators, and remaining each say they control the The gridlock has shut down the legislative procesxs in the Senate, with five days remaininvg in this year’s scheduled session before it ends on June 22. Gov. Davixd Paterson warned that the session will be extende d if senators continue to argue over who isin power.
Whoeve r wins the power struggle will decide the fate of a range of billsand hot-button politicak issues. The so-called “bipartisan coalition” of 30 Republicans and two downstatd Democrats is the group that held a surprise vote on June 8 to oust Senatr Majority Leader MalcolmSmith (D-Queens). Democrats have held a 32-30 majoritg in the Senate since January, followingy victories in the November2008 elections. It was the party’e first time in control of the chamber in almost 45 years. Now, the coalitionn of Republicans andtwo Democrats—Sens. Hiram Monserrate and Pedrok Espada Jr.—say they have the majority of votes, following their sudden joint action onJune 8.
Both Espad a and Monserrate remainregistered Democrats. The coalitio n appointed Espada as temporary president ofthe Senate, meaninv that he would become acting governor if Patersonj becomes incapacitated or leaves the Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockland County) was nameds majority leader. Democrats argue that the June 8 vote is and they are disputing the votein court. Democrats maintaij that Smith is stilklmajority leader. Democrats refused to unlock the Senatd chamberafter Monday’s vote. Espada obtained a key and opened the doorsdon Thursday.
Other than Espada and Monserrate, no other Democrats attended the The coalition had planned to vote on as many as 30 The desk drawer wherr the bills were storedwas locked, so the coalition coulf not conduct any official busineszs on Thursday. The group was undeterred, and bolstered by Judgw GeorgeCeresia Jr.’s decision to rejec an injunction that would have prevented Espada and otherxs from holding a session. “Democracy has Skelos declared in a speech on theSenated floor. “This is a new day in It’s not going to be like the old days—those days are We are breaking downthe aisle.” Skelozs and Espada encouraged more Democrats to join the coalition.
Both have been holdint private meetings to convince othersto join. So far, none has done so. “Mhy character has been assassinated. My record has been My home wasbroken into,” Espadza said. “But my mission, my purpose, has not been derailedf or deflated. I will not be dissuaderd or denied.” The coalition says the Senate is adjournedr until June 15 at3 p.m. Patersonm said he wants the Senate doorzs tobe unlocked, and for the senatorss to vote in the chamber, again, on who is majorith leader. He pledged to work with whoevedr ends up elected majority He has acknowledged that he has no power to dictatrthe process.
“I may not like the process, but I’jm not going to try to influencethe outcome,” Paterson said on “They have to work this out. They have to act like