 The world didn't come to an end for the Democratic Party-no, far from it. While the party lost a significant amount of seats in the House of Representatives, 49 of those seats were in Congressional districts that John McCain won in 2008. So, there was going to be a midterm shift despite the poor economy. And for two years at least, Democrats have the Senate and White House, and I hope they govern wisely down in DC.
Despite the nationwide shift to the Republicans, here in New York we enjoyed a clean sweep of the Governor, Comptroller, and Attorney General's races, and it appears that the Democrats will keep the slightest lead in the State Senate with my friend David Carlucci being a freshman Senator and part of that majority. (UPDATE: Now it appears to be a 31-31 split)
However, this is put up or shut up time for the Democrats in the state legislature. Two years ago, they had a bicameral majority, but they blew it when State Senators like Ruben Diaz, Sr., Pedro Espada, and Hiram Monserrate had temper tantrums and with the latter two caucusing the Republicans, which effectively shut down our government. What ensued was perhaps the most pitiful example of governing. It was an embarrassment and every Democratic State Senator re-elected should humble themselves to their constituencies after they gave them, and the party, a second chance.
This time, they better not blow it.
I feel that it's time for new leadership in the State Senate, perhaps real reformers like Diane Savino or Liz Krueger taking the helm. The Democrats need for their State Senators to work together as a disciplined team, and not as a bunch of lords brooding over their individual fiefdoms.
And perhaps its time for Dean Skelos stop playing palace intrigue by trying to cobble together a majority with Senators greedy for member items cash. Such exchanges are not only dysfunctional, they damage the very integrity of our legislature. Hopefully, Republicans will vote into leadership someone who is more sensible and focused on healing this great State than Skelos.
The State Senate needs to immediately get down to the business of reform, and that includes creating transparency laws, independent redistricting, and strict campaign finance reform. They must clean up the processes of governance before they can truly govern and get to the task of fixing New York. |
