https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Senate-grinds-to-a-halt-12956864.php
State Senate grinds to a halt
Updated 1:58 pm, Thursday, May 31, 2018
ALBANY - Political brinkmanship left the state Senate at an impasse this week and the remaining three weeks of the session don't look promising for the dissonant legislative body.
The 63-member chamber's delicate balance of power was on full display Wednesday and Thursday as Republicans and Democrats fought over the legislative agenda after an absent Republican senator, who accepted a call up to the Navy reserves, left the chamber deadlocked at 31 votes per side.
The Senate Democrats believed they had a secret weapon in Lt. Gov. Kathy Hocul, a Democrat, who was ready to enter the chamber and exercise her constitutional authority to oversee proceedings in the chamber.
The even split wouldn't normally stop the chamber from functioning, as bills routinely pass with overwhelming bipartisan support. But the Senate Democrats' procedural gambit quickly triggered a whisper campaign through Capitol corridors Wednesday and it became widely known they hoped to use Hochul's vote to pass an amendment dealing with abortion and contraception rights on the agenda crafted by the Senate Republicans, who largely oppose the measures.
Senate Democrats explain their procedural moves that contributed to the state Senate grinding to a halt on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Hostile amendments from the Senate Democrats aren't new and they usually die shortly after they're introduced.
If Hochul was on the dais and in charge, Senate Democrats could bring up the amendment and the Senate Republicans wouldn't have the 32 votes needed to stop the maneuver.
There is ongoing debate about what would happen next in the chamber, but Senate Republicans didn't let it get that far, and they pulled their entire agenda of bills on Wednesday and didn't produce an agenda on Thursday. The gridlock underscores the dysfunction that often grips the state Capitol, especially in the Senate chamber.
One bill did reach the floor on Thursday, a non-controversial Republican bill dealing with brain injury prevention in schools, but it failed to pass when no one from the Senate Democratic Conference crossed the aisle to support it. Senate Republicans then adjourned the session until next week.
Senate Republicans previously enjoyed a comfortable 40-seat majority due to a coalition with the eight-member Independent Democratic Conference, but the breakaway Democrats rejoined the Senate Democratic Conference in April. The 31 Republicans maintain control of the chamber with the support of Sen. Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat.
David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87
