NYS Senate Holds First Regular Session in 31 Days, Passes City’s Sales Tax Increase
Friday, July 10, 2009
New York, NY –
New York State Senators worked into the night at their first regular session marking and end to their 31-day stalemate. They passed so-called non-controversial bills including the city's half-percent sales tax increase.
The holdup ended yesterday, with the return of Bronx Senator Pedro Espada, Junior, to the Democratic fold, after he had helped Republicans seize control in a coup. Espada says it was not his intention to cause such chaos.
ESPADA: I profoundly apologize. that was not the result. that was a point along the bumpy road.
REPORTER: For his renewed loyalty, Espada has been given the title of Majority Leader. Malcolm Smith regained his position as Senate president. Smith praised Democratic unity.
SMITH: what you see before you today, what you now know once again, is that Democrats have come together to move the state's business forward.
REPORTER: Republican State Senator Dean Skelos, the leader of the coup, says Espada's change of heart was, quote, "his right".
SKELOS: I mean he always indicated to me, and publicly that he's a Democrat, that someday he'd would at least like to join that conference. He never indicated that he was going to leave the coalition.
REPORTER: He says Espada promised HIM that he would make sure reforms were enacted.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.