State Senate Split Over New Governing Rules

Senate Democrats kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting on Tuesday for a set of new rules governing the chamber to arrive from Republicans. When members finally did receive their copies, after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, they didn’t like what they saw.

New state Senate Coalition Majority Leader Jeff Klein

“We are taking a trip back in time to the bad old Albany: more resource reductions for the minority, bizarre new supermajority requirements to get votes or even hearings on any bills not approved by the Republican leadership,” said state Sen. Liz Krueger, adding that Republicans “locked duly elected Democratic senators out of the legislative process.”

Several Democrats said the new rules would enhance Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos’ power and that the Independent Democratic Conference got little from the deal. But Temporary Senate President Jeff Klein stressed that all three conferences would work together in a lofty speech at the Senate chamber on Wednesday.

“Coalition governing by its very nature is an inclusive endeavor, not an exclusive one,” Klein said. “I have no doubt that our promise to create this historic bipartisan governing model will be the vehicle by which we can continue to build on tremendous progress we have achieved in the past two years.”