Jul 10, 2009 2:55 pm US/Eastern
State Senate Back To Business
Bronx Senator Double-Crosses GOP, Returns To Side Of Democrats
Dems Regain Control Of Senate With 32-30 Majority; Lawmakers Back To Doing The People's Work
ALBANY (CBS) ―
A judge will decide whether it was legal for New York Gov. David Paterson to appoint a lieutenant governor.
Arguments are to be heard Friday in state Supreme Court on Long Island.
On Thursday, a different judge overturned a restraining order obtained by Republicans trying to block Richard Ravitch from taking office.
Paterson wanted Ravitch to provide a tie-breaking vote in the deadlocked state Senate. He has now been sworn in.
Meanwhile, the state Senate is back at work after the latest twist in the month-long, circus-like drama that's plagued the state capitol.
The rogue senator who started it all has flip-flopped back to the Democrats, and lawmakers began passing bills that have been sitting idle for the past five weeks.
He's been on the receiving end of countless insults and name calling over the last five weeks. But Friday morning, Democratic Sen. Pedro Espada, the renegade politician who's infamous defection to the Republican tent triggered the stalemate in the frst place, returned to the lukewarm embrace of his Democratic comrades.
"We needed this exchange. It happened in public. It happened and it took too long, and I'm sorry," Espada said. "But I am not sorry for the opportunity in the restarting of this engine in the Democratic Conference that will bring with it the Republican Conference to a new reality, and a new strength to be able to serve 19.5 million people."
It'll be up to Senator Espada's constituents to determine whether that's a credible claim. But it appears the democratic conference paid a price to take back the Bronx Democrat, who's also under investigation for a number of issues, including whether he actually lives in Mamaroneck. Espada now has a new title: majority leader.
The post gives him major input in the allottment of $85 million in pork barrel grants. Senate President Malcolm Smith, who gave up the title of majority leader to espada, characterized the intra-party dysfunction as a routine family squabble.
"This is a good day for the state of New York," said Smith on Thursday. " Many have written about the moments over the last 30 days, but as I always say, out of productive friction good things occur."
Espada, who apologized for the last five weeks worth of chaos, remains as bold as ever, telling New Yorkers that the group of lawmakers responsible for the month-long stalemate will soon make everyone proud.
"This has obviously taken a toll on the institution, on the families of all the senators, on our work, on the 19.5 million people throughout the state that witnessed disfunction and chaos at its highest levels. I profoundly apologize, that's not the result, that's a point along a bumpy road," Espada said.
While Democrats now have a 32-to-30 majority, Republicans predicted the unity would inevitably give way to friction in the coming months. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is simply relieved, saying in a written statement:
"Passage of the city's revenue bills will allow us to begin hiring the police officers, firefighters and other critically important personel we need to continue improving the city's quality of life."
CBS 2's Jay Dow contributed to this report.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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