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Senate Leaders in Negotiations (Updated)
June 18th, 2009

Sens. Dean Skelos and Pedro Espada, Jr., abandoned their regularly scheduled non session this afternoon to attend a meeting with Democratic leaders.

Democrats launched a campaign this morning for Republicans to ditch Espada as Senate President and there is talk that Republicans might be considering doing just that. Yesterday, Democrats began using the phrase “Espada Republicans,” and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee began robocalling Republican Senate districts linking Republicans to Espada. The strategy could be paying off.

Skelos has stood by Espada for the past two weeks but when asked today if he would consider moving ahead without Espada in a leadership position he was less firm. Skelos replied only that there was going to be a “conversation.”

Update: The Times Union is reporting that some sort of power sharing agreement might have been close– at least one between Republicans and Sen. Darrell Aubertine. According to the report a disagreement over whether Espada would be president pro tempore led to negotiations collapsing. Republicans returned to the Senate Chamber to admonish Democrats for not “showing up to work.”

As non session ended Skelos was asked why Espada had not used the two votes he claims to have. “I think perhaps, and we’re checking that out…I don’t know if that is the case.”

Democrats have been hinting that Republicans want to negotiate without Espada.  Republicans have returned fire by hinting that Sen. Darrell Aubertine might be considering attending session with them. Republicans said that Aubertine asked them to put legislation he favors on the active list and assumed that meant he might come to the chamber to vote on it. Aubertine’s representatives have denied Aubertine has interest in working with the Espada lead coalition. Aubertine  told the Times Union that he was considering attending session under a failed power- sharing agreement.

Democrats say they are headed home for the weekend but that negotiations will continue.

By David King on June 18, 2009, 11:49 am
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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