Senate Democrats - or at least one - have already laid claim to the Senate chamber, the DN's Ken Lovett and Glenn Blain report.
Long Island Sen. Brian Foley and several staffers have locked themselves inside the Senate chamber.
As of 9:30 a.m. it was just the small group, not the whole 31-member conference.
....
The Democrats are arguing that whichever party controls the Senate president and the majority leader chairs control the chamber. Hence, the occupation.
Krueger said Democrats first hit the chamber at about 6 a.m. - long before any reporters even arrived at the Capitol.
They are all taking turns standing at the podium or sitting in the majority leader's chair. Each shift lasts two hours.
Sens. Eric Adams and Sen. Bill Perkins took the first shift. Krueger was replaced at 10 a.m. by Sen. Diane Savino.
"We just decided we would make it clear we are planning to continue our session as the majority on the floor of the state Senate," Krueger said from the podium.
source
Yes, nothing comes across as responsible government like governing by the rules of "shotgun". If it's effective in determining who gets the passenger seat, it's effective in deciding who runs the New York State Senate!
Even worse is that Senator Ruben Diaz is, shudder, actually on point today.
"The reality is that Governor Paterson is not punishing us - - he is blessing us. Each day spent in Albany, every senator is paid an additional stipend of $160.00, which is paid by the people of New York, " Diaz said. "The fact of the matter is that the only ones Gov. Paterson is punishing are the taxpayers of New York State. The people of New York are paying for the Governor's inability to govern."
That's right, our State Senators are sucking down the per diem pay this week. That's 160 dollars a day, or 20 dollars an hour for the standard 8 hour work day, or 160 dollars an hour for the one hour that our Senators are actually "working".
I think Tom Suozzi said it best...
"This is turning into the worst reality TV show ever: 'I'm a Senator, Get Me Out of Here,'" said Thomas R. Suozzi, Nassau County executive and former Democratic candidate for governor. "Jon and Kate are fighting less than these guys."
source
Zing. |
