wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

News

NYS Senate Holds First Regular Session in 31 Days, Passes City’s Sales Tax Increase

WNYC Newsroom

NEW YORK, NY July 10, 2009 —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.


Supported By