Albany, NY – Its Getting Worse: Deadlock In the Senate As Legislator Who Joined Republicans Returning to Democrats

Albany, NY – State Sen. Hiram Monserrate will announce today that he’s returning to the Democratic caucus after voting with fellow Democrat Pedro Espada Jr. last week to give control of the Senate to the Republican minority, according to the New York Daily News.

“I’m coming home,” the Queens Democrat said in an interview with the Daily News.

Monserrate’s latest change in course comes after a meeting Sunday with Gov. David Paterson, Brooklyn state Sen. Eric Adams and Rev. Al Sharpton at the Georgia Diner in Queens.

“I’ve received assurances from my fellow Democrats that several pieces of progressive legislation I support will be brought to the floor for a vote,” Monserrate said.

Montserrat was told that a bill to end vacancy decontrol and reestablish rent regulations over thousands of apartments in the city would come to a vote on the Senate floor.

“Under Malcolm’s leadership, they wouldn’t allow that bill to come to the floor,” Monserrate said. “Now we’ll have an up and down vote on that bill.”

Monserrate said Democratic leaders told him Brooklyn Sen. John Sampson would replace Sen. Malcolm Smith as the leader of the Democrats, but Smith would retain his post as Majority leader.

Monserrate and fellow Democrat Pedro Espada Jr. shocked Albany last Monday when they voted with Republicans and ousted Sen. Smith as majority leader. Unlike Monserrate, Espada Jr. has not waverer in support of the voting coalition he has formed with Republicans.

If Monserrate goes ahead with his latest flip-flop, it’ll create a 31-31 deadlock in the Senate, further complicating the issue of which party controls the Legislative body.

Democrats claim Sen. Smith is still the Majority Leader and that Monday’s vote came after the days session had ended. Republicans claim the vote was valid and Sen. Dean Skelos is the rightful Majority Leader. Both sides are leading on the courts to make a decision.

Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara gave Democrats and Republicans until today to work out their differences about who controls the Senate. McNamara assured lawyers for ousted Majority Leader Smith and state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. that it would be “in everyone’s best interest” to reach a compromise.

If no agreement is reached, McNamara is prepared to lay down the law on today. He scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. and plans to make a decision before the 3 p.m. session.