New York State government has been a train wreck for a long time, it's an organization where you can
not do your job and still get a raise year after year. Several weeks ago it graduated into a full blown cluster f*ck. But today it looks like those of us in the Empire State are back to having a more or less functional legislature.
UPI.com -
New York state Senate standoff endsFor those of you not playing along in your home state or country I will try to provide a brief history as I understand it ...
Since 1965 the Republicans have controlled the State Senate, NY is a blue state by population but a red state by area. That was until last year when the Republicans got Bushed out of office.
So, in January the Democrats took control with a slim 32-29 majority. They basked in new found power and things crapped along pretty much as usual.
For a few months.
Then on June 8th
two Democratic Senators, Espada and Monserrate, defected to the other side joining the Republicans.
Suddenly, the Republicans were back in charge. They basked in recovered power and things crapped along pretty much as usual.
For about a week.
Then on June 15th
Sen. Monserrate changed his mind and rejoined the Democrats. The Senate was tied 31 to 31, neither party had a majority. Ever since no legistlation has been passed in New York, while the parties commenced an expensive pissing match.
At the end of June NY Governor Paterson
starting ordered emerency sessions of the Senate every day until they ended the stalemate. But that did not work.
In situations like these the Lieutenant Governor can cast a tie breaking vote in the state Senate, like the VP in the US Senate. But NY does not have a lieutenant governor, it used to be Paterson, but he became governor back when the last governor resigned after getting
caught screwing prostitutes, oops.
Anywho ... yesterday the Governor decided to appoint and swear-in a new Lieutenant Governor (though that
may not be legal). Suddenly Sen. Espada had a change of heart and decided to triple-cross the Republicans and return to Democrats, giving the Dems a majority again.
So we are back where we started in January, accept that Espada got to be majority leader as part of the deal.
Did I miss anything?
The alternate title for this post was "Why I am a registered independent".