Extraordinary Session Gets Bizarre
June 23rd, 2009
The extraordinary session of the Senate, called by Gov. David Paterson, is supposed to start at 3 p.m., the faux session called by Republicans was supposed to start at 2 p.m. Senate Democrats have apparently trumped all that by entering the Senate chamber and locking the doors.
Both sides say power-sharing negotiations have broken down. This could be a play by the Democrats to simply have control of the gavel before the special session starts. It could also be far stranger than that but who knows? At this point the Democrats have locked themselves away.
A Democratic Senator told me last week that Democrats could have entered the chamber to hold sessions as Republicans have, “just to lay physical claim to the chamber.” But he said Democrats wanted to focus on the “substance” of the debate, not “the spectacle.” Plans seem to have have changed.
Republicans still intend to hold session.
By David King on June 23, 2009, 12:21 pmIn category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »



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