Chaos ruled the day in the New York Senate as dueling sessions, taunts, heckling and posturing took precedence over actual legislating. Both Republicans and Democrats acted to pass legislation, but it isn’t clear that any of it was done in a legal fashion.
Republicans came into the chamber after Democrats had arrived and began passing legislation on the “non-controversial calendar,” meaning that unless someone protested it was assumed the bill has full support of the chamber. Republicans passed around 85 bills in this fashion. Democrats remained silent as the votes were called but said later that Republicans did not take quorum to begin the session and therefore the legislation was not acted on legally. Republicans claim they took a quorum.
At 3 p.m., the scheduled start of the extraordinary session, Democrats began their session, while Republicans tried to move to address the legislation Paterson had directed to be addressed. Leaders from both sides spoke over each other. Charges of “you’re out of order” rang from both sides of the room. Republicans asked for the bills put forward by Paterson for the special session, Sen. Malcolm Smith said that the bills had yet to arrive.
Smith called the session at ease. But Skelos, still presiding over his session began to address his members. Skelos complained that Senate staff had not provided them with the bill jackets for the legislation that they acted on.
“If they were actually in charge, they would have the bill jackets,” said Sen. Kevin Parker who was standing at ease under Smith’s orders. Skelos glared at Parker and Democratic leader Sen. John Sampson told Parker to “Calm down.”
Republicans left the chamber saying they would return at 5 p.m. Democrats voted on a number of bills put forward by Paterson in the Republicans’ absence. And they acted, as the Republicans had, in reading from the “non-controversial calendar.” There were no objections and the bills passed.
At times the scene was disturbing for its utter lack of seriousness, civility and regard for the public trust. Some Senators joked, laughed and seemed to find particular glee in the mess they have created. But tomorrow, as impossible as it seems, may actually be even more chaotic. Read the rest of this entry »
By David King on June 23, 2009, 10:29 pm
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