New York State Senate

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New York State Senate
Type
Type Upper house
Leadership
President of the Senate Richard Ravitch[1], (D)
President Pro Tem Malcolm Smith (D)
Majority Leader Pedro Espada, (D)
Minority Leader Dean Skelos, (R)
Structure
Members 61 (1 vacancy)
Political groups Democratic Party
Republican Party
Election
Last election November 4, 2008
Meeting place
Senate Chamber,
New York State Capitol, Albany, New York, United States
Website
http://NYSenate.gov/
The New York State Senate chamber.

The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms.[2] There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve. The New York Constitution provides for a varying number of members in the Senate; the current membership is 62, elected from single-member constituencies equal in population.

Contents

[edit] Officers

For more information, see 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis.

The Senate is headed by its President, a post held ex officio by the Lieutenant Governor. The Senate President has a casting vote in the event of a tie, but otherwise may not vote. More often, the Senate is presided over by the Temporary President, a post which is normally also held by the Majority Leader. After the 2008 elections, the Senate had a Democratic majority for the first time since 1965.

The Senate has one additional member outside those who are elected by the people: the Secretary of the New York State Senate is a post that is chosen by a majority vote of the senators, and does not have voting power (he is allowed, though officially discouraged, from discussing and negotiating legislative matters). The Secretary of the Senate is responsible for overseeing the handling of bills and the oversight of the sergeants-at-arms and the stenographer, both of which are answerable to the secretary. The position is currently held by Angelo Aponte, who was elected to a two-year term in January 2009.

Position Name Party District
President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch Dem
Temporary President Malcolm Smith Dem 14
Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. Dem 33
Democratic Conference Leader John L. Sampson Dem 19
Minority Leader Dean Skelos Rep 9
Deputy Minority Leader Thomas W. Libous Rep 52

[edit] Full Majority leadership

[edit] Full Minority leadership

[edit] 2008 elections and power struggle

For more information, see New York state elections, 2008.

Democrats won 32 of 62 seats in New York's upper chamber in the 2008 General Election on November 4, capturing the majority for the first time in more than four decades.[3][4] Although New York has turned almost solidly Democratic at most levels, Republicans were able to hold onto the State Senate for all but one year from 1939 to 2008 because its apportionment traditionally favors the Upstate, where Republicans dominated until very recently. While the Democrats hold all but three seats in New York City, they hold only five seats in the Upstate and two seats on Long Island.

However, a power struggle emerged before the new term began. Four Democratic senators—Rubén Díaz (Bronx), Carl Kruger (Brooklyn), Pedro Espada (Bronx), and then-Senator Hiram Monserrate (Queens)—immediately refused to caucus with their party.[5] The self-named "Gang of Four" refused to back Malcolm Smith as the chamber's majority leader and sought concessions.[6] Monserrate soon reached an agreement with Smith that reportedly included the chairmanship of the Consumer Affairs Committee.[7] The remaining "Gang of Three" reached an initial compromise in early December that collapsed within a week,[8] but was ultimately resolved[9] with Smith becoming majority leader[10] until early June 2009, when two Democrats joined with Republicans to elect a new leadership for the New York State Senate, reaching a power-sharing deal under which Republicans became, again, technically the majority party.

[edit] Republican reclamation and ensuing dispute

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature 29 31 60 2
Begin 32 30 62 0
June 8, 2009[11] 30 2 30
June 15, 2009[12] 31 1 30
July 9, 2009[13] 32
Feb 9, 2010[14] 31 61 1
March 17, 2010[15] 32 62 0
Latest voting share 51.6% 48.4%
Main article: 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis

Though there were 32 Democrats and 30 Republicans in the Senate, on June 8, 2009, then-Senator Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) and Pedro Espada, Jr. (D-Bronx)—who were part of what was described by the Associated Press as a "parliamentary coup"—allegedly voted with the 30 Republican members to install Senator Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) as the new majority leader of the Senate, to replace Senator Malcolm Smith (D-Queens).[16][17]

The move came after Republican whip Tom Libous introduced a surprise resolution to vacate the chair and replace Smith as temporary president and majority leader. In an effort to stop the vote, Democratic whip Jeff Klein unilaterally moved to recess, and Smith had the lights and Internet cut off. However, they were unable to stop the session. All 30 Republicans plus two Democrats, Monserrate and Espada, voted in favor of the resolution. In accordance with a prearranged deal, Espada was elected temporary president and acting lieutenant governor while Skelos was elected majority leader.[18] Both Monserrate and Espada were members of the original "Gang of Four" (the other two being Ruben Diaz and Carl Kruger), a group of Democratic senators that threatened to defect to the Republican caucus to prevent Smith from taking control of the chamber in January 2009. Monserrate had backed out of the Gang at the time, being the first of the four to back Smith.

The apparent Republican seizure of power is tenuous in any event. Smith claims the vote was illegal because of Klein's motion to adjourn; parliamentary procedure stipulates that a vote to adjourn takes precedence over all other business. However, Smith, Klein, and most of the Democrats walked out before an actual vote to adjourn could be taken. Smith has also claimed that it is illegal to oust the majority leader in the middle of a two-year term, and as such, leaders can only be replaced at the beginning of a term, except in the case of death or resignation. Smith still asserts that he is majority leader and intends to challenge the vote in court. He has locked the doors of the state senate chambers in an effort to prevent any further legislative action.[19] The Espada-Skelos coalition majority, which is also courting as many as ten more Democrats,[20] announced plans hold sessions in the "Well" of the legislative office building until chamber doors are reopened.[21] By the time of the scheduled session on June 10 at 3:00 p.m., at the request of Governor David Paterson, the keys to the senate chamber were turned over to the coalition;[22] Smith has claimed that the coalition stole the key.[20] The scheduled session was eventually postponed.[20]

Additionally, both Monserrate and Espada faced accusations of unethical or criminal conduct. Monserrate was indicted for felony assault in March and would automatically lose his seat if convicted. New York, like most states, has a provision in its state constitution which bars convicted felons from holding office.[19] Espada is the target of a state investigation into whether he funded his campaign with money siphoned from a nonprofit health care agency he controls. The Bronx's district attorney is also investigating charges that Espada actually lives in Mamaroneck (ironically, the home of fellow Democratic state senator Suzi Oppenheimer rather than the north Bronx district he represents.[23]

As a result of the coup, Senate Democrats voted for John Sampson to replace Malcolm Smith as Democratic Leader. This led Hiram Monserrate to declare that he would once again caucus with the Democrats, which led to a 31-31 split.[24]

On July 9, 2009, a source stated that Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. would be rejoining the Senate Democratic Conference after reaching a deal to have Malcom Smith be pro tem for a while until a "transition period" occurs in which Senator Sampson would replace him, and Espada as the majority leader.[25]

[edit] Composition

[edit] Members of the Senate

District Senator Party First elected Residence
1 Kenneth LaValle Republican 1976 Port Jefferson
2 John J. Flanagan Republican 2002 East Northport
3 Brian X. Foley Democratic 2008 Blue Point
4 Owen H. Johnson Republican 1972 West Babylon
5 Carl Marcellino Republican 1995 Syosset
6 Kemp Hannon Republican 1989 Garden City
7 Craig Johnson Democratic 2007 Port Washington
8 Charles Fuschillo Republican 1998 Merrick
9 Dean Skelos Republican 1984 Rockville Centre
10 Shirley Huntley Democratic 2006 Jamaica
11 Frank Padavan Republican 1972 Bellerose
12 George Onorato RETIRING Democratic 1983 Astoria
13 Jose Peralta Democratic 2010 Jackson Heights
14 Malcolm Smith Democratic 2000 St. Albans
15 Joseph Addabbo, Jr. Democratic 2008 Ozone Park
16 Toby Ann Stavisky Democratic 1999 Flushing
17 Martin Malave Dilan Democratic 2002 Bushwick
18 Velmanette Montgomery Democratic 1984 Brooklyn
19 John Sampson Democratic 1996 Brooklyn
20 Eric Adams Democratic 2006 Brooklyn
21 Kevin Parker Democratic 2002 Brooklyn
22 Martin Golden Republican 2002 Bay Ridge
23 Diane Savino Democratic 2004 Staten Island
24 Andrew Lanza Republican 2006 Staten Island
25 Dan Squadron Democratic 2008 Brooklyn
26 Liz Krueger Democratic 2002 New York
27 Carl Kruger Democratic 1994 Brooklyn
28 José M. Serrano Democratic 2004 Spanish Harlem
29 Thomas Duane Democratic 1998 New York
30 Bill Perkins Democratic 2006 Harlem
31 Eric Schneiderman RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL Democratic 1998 Washington Heights
32 Rubén Díaz Democratic 2002 Soundview
33 Pedro Espada Democratic 2008 Mamaroneck
34 Jeffrey Klein Democratic 2004 Throgs Neck
35 Andrea Stewart-Cousins Democratic 2006 Yonkers
36 Ruth Hassell-Thompson Democratic 2000 Williamsbridge
37 Suzi Oppenheimer Democratic 1984 Mamaroneck
38 VACANT
39 Bill Larkin Republican 1990 New Windsor
40 Vincent Leibell RUNNING FOR PUTNAM COUNTY EXECUTIVE Republican 1994 Patterson
41 Stephen Saland Republican 1990 Poughkeepsie
42 John Bonacic Republican 1998 Mount Hope
43 Roy McDonald Republican 2008 Stillwater
44 Hugh Farley Republican 1976 Schenectady
45 Betty Little Republican 2002 Queensbury
46 Neil Breslin Democratic 1996 Albany
47 Joseph Griffo Republican 2006 Rome
48 Darrel Aubertine Democratic 2008 Cape Vincent
49 David Valesky Democratic 2004 Oneida
50 John DeFrancisco Republican 1992 Syracuse
51 James Seward Republican 1986 Milford
52 Thomas W. Libous Republican 1988 Binghamton
53 George H. Winner, Jr. RETIRING Republican 2004 Elmira
54 Michael Nozzolio Republican 1992 Fayette
55 James Alesi Republican 1996 East Rochester
56 Joseph Robach Republican 2002 Greece
57 Catharine Young Republican 2005 Olean
58 William Stachowski Democratic 1981 Lake View
59 Dale Volker RETIRING Republican 1975 Depew
60 Antoine Thompson Democratic 2006 Buffalo
61 Michael Ranzenhofer Republican 2008 Clarence
62 George D. Maziarz Republican 1995 Newfane

[edit] Committee leadership

[edit] Committee Chairs

[edit] Committee Vice Chairs

[edit] Committee ranking members (Republican)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The last elected Lt. Gov., David Paterson, succeeded to the governor's office upon Eliot Spitzer's resignation. Richard Ravitch was appointed by Gov. Paterson, which was upheld by the New York Court of Appeals.
  2. ^ "Branches of Government in New York State". New York State Senate, A Guide to New York State's Government. New York State Senate. 1988. http://www.senate.state.ny.us/sws/aboutsenate/branches_gov.html. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 
  3. ^ 2008 Election Results, New York State Board of Elections.
  4. ^ 2008-09 (Post-Election) Partisan Composition of State Legislatures National Conference of State Legislatures
  5. ^ New York Times. "Democrats Take State Senate." nytimes.com. Nov 5, 2008.
  6. ^ Peters, Jeremy W.Democrats Likely to Keep Control of State Senate, The New York Times, November 6, 2008.
  7. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth. Monserrate Makes A Democratic Deal The Daily Politics. The Daily News November 8, 2008
  8. ^ Lanza, Michael. Smith Balks After ‘Gang of Three’ Talks The Queens Tribune December 11, 2008.
  9. ^ Democrats Reach Pact to Lead the Senate
  10. ^ Democrats Take Control of New York State Senate
  11. ^ Democratic Senators Pedro Espada, Jr. and Hiram Monserrate defected to give the Republicans a majority.
  12. ^ Hiram Monserrate returned to the Democratic caucus, following a vote to remove Malcolm Smith as Democratic Leader and replace him with John Sampson.
  13. ^ Democrat Pedro Espada, Jr. rejoined the Democratic caucus after a deal for him to serve as Majority Leader.
  14. ^ Democrat Hiram Monserrate (District 13) was expelled from the State Senate.
  15. ^ Democrat Jose Peralta sworn in to succeed Monserrate.
  16. ^ "GOP, 2 Dems flip power balance in NY Senate", The Washington Post, June 8, 2009. Accessed June 8, 2009.
  17. ^ Odato, James. "Two Democrats join Republicans to topple Smith as Senate leader", Albany Times Union, June 8, 2009. Accessed June 8, 2009.
  18. ^ [1]
  19. ^ a b Peters, Jeremy, and Danny Hakim.Republicans Seize Control of State Senate. The New York Times, 2009-06-09.
  20. ^ a b c Bauman, Valerie. Senate stalls: Coalition says it's still strong. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  21. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth. Coalition government, Day One. New York Daily News "Daily Politics" blog. 2009-06-09.
  22. ^ http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/maverick_coalition_we_have_key.html
  23. ^ Salonstall, David. Sen. Pedro Espada hounded by questions on ethics and residency. New York Daily News, 2009-06-10.
  24. ^ Lovett, Kenneth (2009-06-15). State Senate standoff means even bigger mess with Sen. Hiram Monserrate's change of heart. New York Daily News Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  25. ^ Deadlock-Ending Deal Near? Espada To Return To The Democrats. New York Daily News Retrieved 2009-07-09.

[edit] External links


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