Thursday, July 16th 2009, 4:00 AM
Ah, for the good old days when no one was in charge of New York's Senate. Back then, its 62 members hurt the state only by doing nothing.
Now, power-mad with renewed control, Democratic leaders are actively and wantonly running their house like something out of a banana republic - holding the people's business hostage, playing everything for revenge against political enemies, breaking every promise of reform and proving that, individually and collectively, their word is dirt.
Yesterday was the day when the Senate Democrats were scheduled to come into session - led by President Malcolm Smith, Conference Leader John Sampson and Majority Leader Pedro Espada - to take up critical languishing measures.
Top on the agenda was extending mayoral control of city public schools. There was supposed to be a vote on legislation that mirrors a measure passed by the Assembly and has widespread bipartisan support.
Put it on the floor, as Sampson and Smith committed to do in writing, and it would pass. But Sampson anda handful of others wanted penny-ante additions. So the bosses delayed coming into session and two of their number, Brooklyn's Carl Kruger and Ruben Diaz of the Bronx, announced they were going home.
This is government by extortion. And every member of the Democratic majority is complicit. These include supposedly enlightened senators such as Tom Duane, Daniel Squadron, Jeff Klein, Liz Krueger and Eric Schneiderman, who have timidly given their proxies to the bully boys.
With their tacit support, for example, Sampson and Smith have elevated an accused domestic abuser to a highly paid committee chairmanship under circumstances demanding a full-blown criminal investigation. (See editorial below.)
Top to bottom, they are a disgrace.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/07/16/2009-07-16_liars_and_bullies_state_senate_democrats_become_ever_more_disgraceful.html#ixzz0LQbwAYPp
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