Nothing accomplished in Senate after Governor orders to meet once again
Story Created:
Jun 29, 2009 at 3:59 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jun 29, 2009 at 4:09 PM EST
ALBANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - Governor David Paterson ordered the Senate to meet once again on Monday - but once again, nothing was accomplished.
However, a judge is making a decision on a lawsuit that could actually force some action. Over the past week, both sides have met, as the governor ordered, but they have met independently.
The democrats would convene and then adjourn minutes later because they don't have a quorum; then the republicans would convene and adjourn minutes later for the same reason.
No official business would take place.
Well, now a State Supreme Court Judge will determine if these independent meetings satisfy the governor's mandate, or whether the senators do indeed need to meet as one body.
It's been three weeks to the day when a "coup" took place in Albany, as two democrats voted with the republicans that day and voted in a new senate leader - essentially changing the power in the senate to the republicans.
Days later, one of the two democrats that voted with the republicans decided to go back to the democratic side, and that left the senate at a 31-31 deadlock.
Since then, nothing has been accomplished as far as legislation goes.
Republican Senator Joseph Griffo from Rome had just gotten out of session Monday afternoon. He believes the judge would not rule Monday on the case.
"What I'm finding out is that there's a number of court cases that are pending right now, and many of them, may require some type of hearing for the judge to make a decision, so I don't believe any judge is going to rule immediately on any specific issue," Senator Griffo said. "There's a great hesitantancy, also, on the part of the courts to intervene because of seperation of powers."
Governor Paterson says he will continue forcing the two sides to meet. And even says he'll make them convene on the Fourth of July.
