MottAvenueMan Posted June 9, 2009 Share #1 Posted June 9, 2009 I, at 3:33 AM...or 0333 if you prefer mil-time, am still laughing my off at what happened yesterday in albany. FUNNY, FUNNY, FUNNY I TELL YA!(NYCT) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortline Bus Posted June 9, 2009 Share #2 Posted June 9, 2009 I, at 3:33 AM...or 0333 if you prefer mil-time, am still laughing my off at what happened yesterday in albany. FUNNY, FUNNY, FUNNY I TELL YA!(NYCT) Guys if you not sure what happened this article should explain it. GOP coup in Albany: Senators Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr. become 'indepedents' and to vote against fellow Democrats By Kenneth Lovett and Glenn Blain NY Daily News Albany Bureau Updated Tuesday, June 9th 2009 ALBANY - Chaos reigned in Albany on Monday night after Republicans seemingly pulled off an unprecedented midsession coup to gain control of the chamber. The GOP flipped two Democrats to shift power to their side, making one of them, Pedro Espada Jr. (D-Bronx), the temporary Senate president. After weeks of intense discussions, Espada and Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) agreed to side with Republicans in what they are calling a new bipartisan coalition to run the Senate. The two newly indepedent State Senators said they will remain Democrats. Republican Minority Leader Dean Skelos was installed to his old post as majority leader. Espada and Skelos said they plan to return to session under the new leadership tomorrow. That could be difficult since the Democrats have locked the gates leading to the Senate chamber, and ousted Majority Leader Malcolm Smith said he will not call his members back to session until order is restored. With two weeks left in the legislative session, the move throws into question a host of high-profile legislation: - Reauthorization of mayoral control in the city. - Legalization of gay marriage. - Democratic-sponsored ethics reform. - Changes in city rent laws. An angry Gov. Paterson called the coup attempt "an outrage" and "despicable," because it comes when a host of issues are unresolved. "Once again Albany's dysfunction has raised its ugly head," he said. Paterson vowed, "I will not allow this to go on much further" while acknowledging he has no real say in the matter. He said he would meet with Espada and Skelos as leaders if their coup stands. As temporary Senate president, Espada would be acting governor if anything happened to Paterson. Espada said he switched allegiances because the Democrats failed to enact most of the reforms they promised after taking control for the first time since 1965. He becomes the highest ranking Hispanic elected official in New York government. "It's a sobering moment, it's not a jubilant moment, but it's a moment that we must have to get our government back," Espada told reporters. Smith, and his colleagues are expected to sue to stop a coup they called "an illegal and unlawful attempt to gain control of the Senate and reverse the will of the people who voted for a Democratic majority. "The Senate Democrats are still in the majority; Sen. Malcolm Smith is still the majority leader," Smith told reporters. "It's sad that the Republicans would choose to disrupt the business of this house." After losing control of the Senate for the first time in 44 years, Republicans had been trying to break the slim 32-30 Democratic majority since January. Espada and Monserrate were two of four Democrats who originally held out against Smith being elected majority leader. Insiders believe the start of this coup occurred when Paterson handpicked Smith to be the State Senate Leader, a job Espada wanted 'badly.' Since then a feud has developed between Smith, Paterson and Espada that was highlighted during talks that lead to the MTA bailout. The breaking point was the recent proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. Monday's coup occurred on the floor in dramatic fashion. It was about 3 p.m., when the Senate was set to approve a list of legislative pork spending that heavily favored Democrats. Suddenly, Sen. Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) began the leadership battle. Democrats were stunned to see Espada and Monserrate raise their hands in unison with Republicans on procedural votes. After tense minutes, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) called to adjourn the session and Democrats stormed out without a vote. "Life is circular, my friend," Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) snarled to Espada and Monserrate as she left. As Republicans, with their two Democratic allies, voted to install Espada and enact new rules for the house, Democrats had the lights in the chamber briefly turned off and threatened to lock the chamber down. Espada and Monserrate said they will not conference with the Republicans. They say Democrats will have at least 12 committee chairmanships and other leadership perks as part of the unprecedented shared running of the house. Espada said he expects a court challenge, but said he is confident the coup was legal. Upstate billionaire Businessman and NHL Buffalo Sabres Owner Tom Golisano who recently moved to Flordia helped broker the coup. He was upset at a state budget that raised taxes and fees by $8 billion. c)2009 NY Daily News, Inc. gblain@nydailynews.com reactions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubwayGuy Posted June 9, 2009 Share #3 Posted June 9, 2009 The key part: Upstate billionaire Businessman and NHL Buffalo Sabres Owner Tom Golisano who recently moved to Flordia helped broker the coup. He was upset at a state budget that raised taxes and fees by $8 billion. STOP LETTING THE WEALTHY BUY EVERYTHING AND CONTROL IT. They don't want to pay their fair share of the taxes, it's not enough that they make more money than you they want you to pay more than them too! Republicans...the party of the rich. No wonder they don't want to "change" anything. The fat cats have been getting fed and now it's time to pay the piper and they don't care. They won't give it up. They'd rather lay off 50 people than take a pay cut. Nothing matters to these people except MONEY: News flash: YOU CANT TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU DIE! F*** these corporates and executives. Save your money just to spite them, don't buy anything you don't need and let it all go to hell. Watch what happens to the economy then. Let the suits all default on their Lexus payments and see what becomes of the "credit crisis" then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted June 9, 2009 Share #4 Posted June 9, 2009 Wow, i'm glad i don't live in NY. :confused: - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortline Bus Posted June 9, 2009 Share #5 Posted June 9, 2009 Wow, i'm glad i don't live in NY. :confused: - A Oh yes Albany, NY. The home of monoply and a banana republic wherebys only millionaries have a voice in state government. Wherebys in last 4 years, a former State Senate Leader(Joe Bruno) is on trial on verge of getting a long term jail sentence for corruption charges. Ditto for Ex NYS Treasurer Alan Hevsi for misuse of public monies and using his staff workers for bodyguard for his sick wife. Not to mention as many as 5 current members of both the state senate and assembly that been arrestred or face legal charges. And the biggest form of hanky-panky in Albany is Eliot Sptizer and his infamous call girl situation. Just another day in office of America's most corrupt state government.:tdown::mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOB2RTO Posted June 9, 2009 Share #6 Posted June 9, 2009 That's politics for you. Exciting at times. Corrupt, greedy, doing improper things to get what they want. Mafioso....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted June 9, 2009 Share #7 Posted June 9, 2009 I just heard on the news that someone was turning the lights off and locking the doors to the chambers in order to throw a wrench into the works... What are they, five year olds? Grow the **** up, Albany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortline Bus Posted June 9, 2009 Share #8 Posted June 9, 2009 I just heard on the news that someone was turning the lights off and locking the doors to the chambers in order to throw a wrench into the works... What are they, five year olds? Grow the **** up, Albany. LOL at that above comment. And i bet some smart high school students would do a better job managing Albany than the clowns who currently hold that posts.:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOB2RTO Posted June 9, 2009 Share #9 Posted June 9, 2009 I just heard on the news that someone was turning the lights off and locking the doors to the chambers in order to throw a wrench into the works... What are they, five year olds? Grow the **** up, Albany. They spend money like 5 year olds, so it is a proper way for them to act...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortline Bus Posted June 10, 2009 Share #10 Posted June 10, 2009 They spend money like 5 year olds, so it is a proper way for them to act...... Speaking of 5 year old babies in Albany could a Blackberry issue could this chaos? You guys be the judge. Ousted State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith fiddled with BlackBerry while Senate burned BY Kenneth Lovett NY DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF Wednesday, June 10th 2009, ALBANY - Blame it on the BlackBerry. Upstate billionaire Thomas Golisano said he began plotting to overthrow Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith after the Democrat spent a whole meeting in late April reading e-mails. "Of course I was upset, I thought that was very rude," he said of the meeting in Smith's office. "When I travel 250 miles to make a case on how to save the state a lot of money ... and the guy comes into his office and starts playing with his BlackBerry, I was miffed." Golisano, who spent millions helping Democrats take control of the Senate for the first time since 1965, said Smith and party leaders reneged on a promise of reform and engaged in a secretive budget process that resulted in $8 billion in new taxes and fees. After the meeting, Golisano, who founded the Independence Party, asked political operative Steve Pigeon to see if he could work a deal with Republicans. Golisano had a good relationship with Sen. George Maziarz (R-Erie), who introduced him to Deputy Minority Leader Tom Libous (R-Binghamton). At the same time, Pigeon met with Democrat Pedro Espada, a longtime friend. Espada had become increasingly frustrated with Smith's leadership, calling him a "disaster," and spoke to Maziarz and Libous about how bad things had become. "When [Pigeon] became involved, it escalated," Espada said. Early last month, GOP Minority Leader Dean Skelos traveled to Rochester for weekend meetings with Golisano, Pigeon and Niagara County GOP Chairman Henry Wojtaszek. Golisano was skeptical that Republicans, who ran the Senate for more than 40 years, would make reforms he wants, including an independent Senate budget office and term limits for leadership posts. "He told him you had 40 years and didn't make a difference," Pigeon said of Golisano. "He said, give me a reason why it should be Frick over Frack." Skelos made a compelling argument that the Republicans learned their lesson, and talks intensified over the next five weeks. Major obstacles had to be overcome, including whether a two-party coalition could work and how it would operate. A final deal was reached in an Albany hotel suite last week, with Golisano chiming in by phone from Florida. Libous said Republican lawmakers then met in a Albany apartment across the street from the governor's mansion and planned their move over pizza and trail mix. Libous was chosen to handle the floor procedures necessary for a leadership change. "We're gonna jump out of a plane without a parachute," Libous told his colleagues. "And we're gonna land on our feet." c)2009 NY Daily News, Inc. klovett@nydailynews.com reactions? Time to send the entire state government aka little children from Albany to the Steve Wilkos show lol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf90OomK4T8&feature=PlayList&p=7DB1245D44A7FC32&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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