Politics

ALBANY (CBS) ― It was their one last chance to do the people's business and they blew it.

All 62 senators -- Democrats and Republicans -- went into session for a few minutes Tuesday night and did absolutely nothing. They did not approve mayoral control of the New York City School System, which expires at midnight Tuesday. And earlier, the Democrats -- in an act that will not pass constitutional muster -- voted down Mayor Michael Bloomberg's request for a half a percent sales tax to balance his budget.

"We see today that the city tax package was voted down, which is a slap at Mayor Bloomberg by the Democrats. We see mayoral control didn't come up for a vote," Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Center, said. "Again we see that's a slap to Mayor Bloomberg."

Bloomberg let his feelings be known Tuesday night, issuing the following statement:

"I said this afternoon that today, June 30, 2009, would be a day that will tell us an awful lot about our State Senate. Sadly, that has turned out to be entirely true. Like millions of New Yorkers, I had hoped that when push came to shove, our senators would muster the courage to rise above partisan gridlock and do what's right on school governance, our sales tax, and so many other issues. Unfortunately, they did not.

"The fact is, there is broad, bi-partisan support for the school governance bill, but it's being held hostage to partisan politics. All we want is all 62 senators to come together and take a vote. Because the Senate refused to act like a responsible body today, come tomorrow, sadly, the lawyers take over in New York City schools. Every decision – from personnel decisions to policy decisions – will be subject to litigation and uncertainty. But make no mistake about it, we will not allow Albany dysfunction to padlock our school buildings or cancel the summer school sessions our kids need to get ahead.

"The Senate's failure to act today also cost us at least $60 million in lost revenue. That's what it costs the NYPD to support 600 police officers for a month, or what our Department for the Aging spends to keep all 305 senior centers open for eight months. The $60 million the State Senate cost us today could potentially mean layoffs that would hurt families when they can least afford it, and will certainly mean cuts to services that every New Yorker needs."

Well before the abbreviated special session, it was a day of chaos.

At one point Democrats tried to hold their own session saying that their 31-member conference had the 32 votes required for a quorum because Republican Sen. Frank Padavan of Queens walked through the chamber to get a Coke. They said that was enough to mark him present and voting on the bill. Padavan disputed that and said any attempt to record him as a yes vote was illegal.

"I think it's totally fraud and they know it. It's childish, stuffing the ballot in a sense. But then again, it doesn't surprise me that they would do anything that they could to get away with whatever they want to get away with," Padavan told CBS 2 HD.

Governor David Paterson said he would not sign any legislation that counted Padavan as a vote.

"Once again, the do-nothing Senate has exceeded our greatest fears and contempt," Paterson said.

A clearly frustrated Paterson held a press conference with Mayor Bloomberg joining by satellite. The mayor was furious that Senate inactivity could allow City Hall control of the schools to expire at midnight. And in true Bloombergian fashion he hinted at revenge.

"Let them know that come the next election, we're going to be asking, did you stand up for our children at this critical moment? Did you lead? Did you take action?" Bloomberg said.

Meanwhile, mayoral control of the school system had an immediate and frightening effect. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who would have one appointee to a rekindled Board of Education, made it. He named his general counsel Jimmy Yan to represent him.

So now it's anybody's guess what will happen next and what it will take to get anything started in Albany.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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