NY State Senate Showdown; The Clown Circus Continues

Senate Democrats and Republicans are huddling over what to do now that the Republicans have managed to get back in charge. Democrats are contemplating legal challenges, but I give them no chance of success.

Senate Democrats are getting interested in the malfeasance of fellow Democrats Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr? When they were in the majority, they ignored calls to investigate their criminal and elections issues, but now that the two have gone and sided with the Republicans and handed power back to Dean Skelos and the Republicans, the Democrats want to see if Espada actually lives in the district he claims to represent and will look closer at Monserrate's criminal behavior (he's currently under indictment for assaulting his girlfriend).

There are additional legal and ethical issues surrounding Espada, including the fact that Democratic leader Malcolm Smith spiked a multimillion dollar project that Espada was championing that may have been illegal, but which was definitely pork.

Austin Shafran, Smith's spokesman, claimed that only after Espada (D-Bronx) learned that he wouldn't be getting the "member item" funding for the Bronx Human Services Council and Green ECO Energy Inc. did he join in with Monday's GOP revolt to oust Smith.

"Two words come to mind: political extortion," said Shafran, adding, "Malcolm prevented Espada from setting up these sham nonprofits that were essentially bilking taxpayers out of millions."

Member items are the currency of power in Albany, and the legislative leaders dole out hundreds of millions of dollars every year to various groups, some of which have dubious backgrounds. Instead of questioning the whole process, Smith's people want to go after Espada. It's personal.

The Democrats can't win on a direct legal challenge to the Republican takeover, so their best bet is this collateral attack on Monserrate and Espada. They might actually win against Espada, but in the meantime all business in Albany has come to a standstill.

Gov. David Paterson wont leave New York, because it would put a Republican in charge. Boo hoo. Where would Paterson need to go that is more important than attending state business in any event?

Senate Democrats have locked the chamber, but Republicans vow to hold session at 3PM.

Tom Golisano is widely believed to be behind the GOP takeover, and the Daily News reports that Golisano was peeved at Smith. The two were in a meeting, and Smith spent the entire time on his Blackberry. After that meeting, Golisano was determined to make Smith pay.

"When I travel 250 miles to make a case on how to save the state a lot of money ... and the guy comes into his office and starts playing with his BlackBerry, I was miffed."

Golisano, who spent millions helping Democrats take control of the Senate for the first time since 1965, said Smith and party leaders reneged on a promise of reform and engaged in a secretive budget process that resulted in $8 billion in new taxes and fees.

After the meeting, Golisano, who founded the Independence Party, asked political operative Steve Pigeon to see if he could work a deal with Republicans.

Golisano had a good relationship with Sen. George Maziarz (R-Erie), who introduced him to Deputy Minority Leader Tom Libous (R-Binghamton).

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/10/2009-06-10_fiddled_with_blackberry_as_senate_burned.html#ixzz0I28RumFl&C

None of this has anything to do with actually governing. There is nothing here except naked personal ambition, political maneuvering, and all this takes place against a backdrop of a state budget for FY 2009-2010 that is already billions in the hole, and which will require additional attention because the state is spending billions more than it is taking in (and the state budget was nearly 6% higher than the prior year, despite the dire situation and loss of Wall Street income).

These are the clowns who are in charge in Albany, and people wonder why the state is in the dire shape it is?

UPDATE:
Paterson is deeply unpopular? You don't say. A budget fiasco, poor decision making, and a bad economy all play a role, but he's not seen as being in control of the process, which means that he's heading for trouble if he wants to run for reelection.

Meanwhile, via Jammie, there's one tidbit about Tom Golisano that I find incredibly surprising. Apparently, he's dating former tennis star Monica Seles.

UPDATE:
Rowdy Yates sends along the following video update: