Skelos is majority leader as GOP reclaims Senate (New York)

[ccharles000]

ALBANY - Senate Republicans have seized control of the chamber in a leadership coup in which they got two Democrats to join their caucus, a stunning move that could change the nature of electoral politics as well as the end of this year's legislative session.

Dean Skelos was elected majority leaders after Senators Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, and Pedro Espada, D-Bronx, voted with Republicans to change the leadership of the chamber.

The defections ended Malcolm Smith's six-month tenure as the leader of the senate.

Monserrate and Espada gave the Senate Republicans the 32 votes they need to switch leadership.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=808194

[Raine1967]

1. This is such scummy politics.

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/100428/power-shakeup-underway-in-state-senate/Default.aspx

Good video here, The Dems walked out. According to NY1 and a few other sources, they are not really sure WHAT happened and if this was a legit power grab.

[asksam]

2. Damn Rethugs

Lying, cheating and stealing their way into power. The hell with the will of the voters, right? We voted for a Dem majority in the Senate, not a Rethug.

If only we could impeach every Rethug in the state Senate.