State Senate Democrats claim quorum, start passing bills

Story Created: Jun 30, 2009 at 12:50 PM EST

Story Updated: Jun 30, 2009 at 12:50 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York Senate Democrats have begun voting on a host of bills and declaring them passed after claiming that a
Republican lawmaker walking through the chamber gave them the
required quorum.

The gambit is the latest in a power struggle that has paralyzed the Senate for three weeks.

Sen. Frank Padavan, a Queens Republican, acknowledges he walked
through the chamber because the Senate parlor had been blocked off.
But he says the Democrats' claim to a quorum is a fraud.

A Republican-led coup on June 8 split the Senate 31-31. A judge ordered GOP senators into the special session ordered by Governor David Paterson to deal with important legislation, including extensions
of several measures set to expire at midnight Tuesday. Republicans
have appealed that order.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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