The New York state Senate remained in disarray Wednesday, two days after a coup gave the GOP control of the chamber.
``It's a media crush here right now,'' Jeff Bishop, spokesman for state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, said Wednesday afternoon as staffers and reporters awaited a long-delayed news conference at the state Capitol.
People were hot and antsy. Eventually, several reporters walked out, according to the Albany Times Union.
Earlier, Senate Republicans and two Democratic defectors planned to convene a session to work on legislation, but the remaining Democrats insisted they were in charge, and the session never opened.
Democratic conference spokesman Austin Shafran said Wednesday night that the conference will be in state Supreme Court in Albany today seeking an order to block the power grab and keep the coalition from holding session.
The Republican media conference was meant to address questions about the new coalition of 30 Republicans and two Democrats that ousted Democratic Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith on Monday.
In a vote that surprised many, Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., D-Bronx, and Sen. Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, voted with the GOP to replace Smith. The coalition named Sen. Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre, a Long Island Republican, as majority leader.
Espada, who is being investigated by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, was made the Senate's temporary president, next in line to be governor should anything happen to Gov. David Paterson.
The defection of Espada and Monserrate placed them in the limelight, and negative stories about them have circulated.
Espada is being investigated to see whether he was using the Soundview Health Clinic, a not-for-profit he controls, ``as a personal piggy bank for his campaigns,'' according to the Daily News. ``That's the same Soundview where in 2005, six employees (but not Espada) were convicted of misusing the clinic's taxpayer funds to aid campaigns for him and his son.''
Monserrate is under indictment in Queens for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.
According to Queens District Attorney Scott Kessler, ``Monserrate's girlfriend ... first told hospital staff he broke a glass in his hand during a heated argument and stabbed her in the face with the shards. She later changed her story and said it was an accident,'' the Daily News reported.
Some Republicans noted Wednesday that Espada and Monserrate had been good enough for Democrats to caucus with before they changed allegiance.
Republicans had controlled the Senate for about 40 years before they were ousted in the 2008 elections, which gave Democrats a 32-30 advantage. The tables are turned as long as both Democrats stay on board _ although one person with insight said Wednesday night the GOP is not certain of Monserrrate.
When Republicans retook control this week, they adopted reform rules, meant to assure that discretionary spending _ member items _ are distributed evenly. The rules, hailed by both Seward and Sen. John Bonacic, R-New Hope, make it easier for individual members to introduce legislation.
According to a statement from Seward's office, ``Under new Senate rules adopted (Monday), more power is given to individual members; the committee process has been strengthened; greater debate and consideration of legislation will be allowed and resources among the members of both majority and minority parties will be equalized.
"These new rules will mean all residents across the state will truly be represented in Albany," Seward's statement continued. "Each senator will have the ability to bring constituent concerns to the floor, and at the end of the day, the interests of all will be fairly represented."
Seward's district includes Otsego and Schoharie counties, as well as several towns in Chenango County. Bonacic represents Delaware County.
Early in the day, The New York Times reported that the party defection was brokered by billionaire and former gubernatorial candidate Tom Gollisano, with help from Sen. Tom Libous, R-Binghamton, who represents much of Chenango County.
