No Senate Session Until a Deficit Deal
November 17th, 2009
Things got ugly on the Senate floor last night when Democrats tried to start voting on legislation. Republicans and Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. protested taking any legislative action until a deficit reduction deal is reached.
“Stop the farce,” Diaz demanded. “Stop the mockery. Stop the laughing to the face of the people of the State of New York. We are not doing nothing here. Nothing!”
Four bills were eventually voted on.
Democrats have developed a new strategy today, perhaps in an effort to prevent another performance on the Senate floor. Senate President Malcolm Smith just told reporters that there will be no session until a deal to reduce the deficit is reached.
Smith said a deal is actually close but that an agreement might actually be reached that does not save the state the entire amount of the estimated $3.2 billion budget gap.
Smith said that his conference still stands against Gov. David Paterson’s proposed education cuts.
By David King on November 17, 2009, 2:58 pmIn category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

