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Albany, NY - Warfare Expands: Paterson Threatens to Sue Senate |
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In a fiery press conference, Paterson said the Senate will convene tomorrow or "we will be in court tomorrow afternoon."
He also threatened to withhold paychecks, saying "if you're not going to work, you shouldn't be getting paid."
Paterson on Monday ordered the squabbling Senate back to session, citing his legal right do so under the state Constitution. The chamber left 55 pieces of legislation, including the issue of gay marriage, untouched during its two-week power struggle.
Today, Republicans said they were now questioning the validity of the move and the Democratic conference said it plans to send its members home to their districts.
The Democrats said they would return to Albany for a special session Thursday if Paterson orders it.
Their opposition, a mostly Republican coalition, refused to attend the session Wednesday, saying it was unconstitutional.
Only 26 Democrats showed up for the session, and after some gaveling it was dismissed, with -- no surprise -- no legislative action accomplished.
A state Supreme Court judge last week refused to rule on the matter -- saying Democrats and Republicans needed to sort out the mess themselves. When that didn't happen, Paterson stepped in, calling Monday the chamber into special session and describing the power struggle "farcical."
The Senate coup began 16 days ago when two Democrats jumped ship, claiming they were now part of a Republican coalition that had ousted Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith. One of those dissident Dems has since come back to his party, while Sen. Pedro Espada continues to claim he is the newly elected President of the Senate.
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Read Comments (7) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 24, 2009 at 04:46 PM Anonymous Says:
Whats with that picture? I thought he was blind...
2
Jun 24, 2009 at 04:41 PM Anonymous Says:
they should make a new law idmitly and vote for new senate members and trow out all of them there
3
Jun 24, 2009 at 05:40 PM This is min haShomaim Says:
This is min haShomaim. As soon as the toeiva marriage problem is taken away from the agenda, everything will be back to normal
4
Jun 24, 2009 at 06:08 PM Anonymous Says:
“ This is min haShomaim. As soon as the toeiva marriage problem is taken away from the agenda, everything will be back to normal ”
You are a fool. Don't attribute this to hashem. The NY legislature has been dysnfunctional for years and this is just a new manifestaton of that ineptness. They never get their budgets done on time and have historically engaged in the most petty and parochial politics. The gay marriage issue is a legitimate issue (which i oppose) but should be brought up for a vote so we know where they stand.
5
Jun 24, 2009 at 08:50 PM SimchaB Says:
Reply to #4): You are a Kofer! Hashem runs the world! The NY legislature may have been dysnfunctional for years but now the Senate is non-functional!
6
Jun 25, 2009 at 06:55 AM Aron Says:
The Senate did accomplish one thing in the last few weeks:
they managed to make Governor Paterson look good.
7
Jun 25, 2009 at 12:13 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Whats with that picture? I thought he was blind... ”
Legally blind- not completely