No end in sight for Senate stalemate

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - The stalemated New York Senate met briefly again Wednesday without getting anything accomplished.

Republicans are disputing the legality of bills passed by Democrats alone.

The stalemate lingers on with no end in sight.

Warring lawmakers met for just minutes.

New York Governor David Paterson said, "Where's the Senate today? Politicking as usual; talking about politics instead of the people's business."

Tuesday, while Democratic senators were in the chamber, one lone Republican, Senator Frank Padavan, happened to wander onto the floor on his way for a soft drink.

Democrats not only counted him as "present" but also voting "yes" on critical bills, claiming they had gotten 32 votes to pass them.

Senator Craig Johnson said, "Doesn't matter if you want a V-8, doesn't matter if you want a Coca Cola, doesn't matter if you want a cup of coffee, you walk in that chamber, you are counted."

Republicans are challenging the session and accusing Democrats of lying about having a quorum.

GOP Leader Senator Dean Skelos said, "That is probably the most fraudulent, obnoxious, arrogant display." (June 30, 2009)

The governor said he would sign important bills that include allowing some local governments to extend sales taxes, only if Republicans agreed to truce, just for those bills.

New York Post Columnist Fred Dicker said, "I think it will go weeks and certainly it could go months. It could go another year, right up to the elections."

Governor Paterson said, "If the Republicans promise me there would be no legal action, and then there is in a sense an agreement between the two parties, on those bills, maybe that would be a good framework for the agreement moving forward."

But any forward movement may not come for some time.

Dicker said, "I think it will go weeks, and certainly it could go months. It could go another year, right up to the elections."

Dicker adds that senators are unhappy about their public images suffering, but are willing to keep fighting because the stakes are so high, control of State Senate.