Espada And GOP Could Care Less About Power-Sharing Or The Judge's Ruling

Yesterday after the failed meeting between Senate leaders on both sides, Republicans (including Espada) proclaimed they were the leaders based on last week's vote and that compromising with the Democratic caucus wasn't going to happen without Judge McNamara's adjudication this morning. Well 10 a.m. came and went, and the judge delayed his decision again in the name of progress between the two camps. I wonder if he thought that about the latest development from Espada, Skelos et al.

From The Daily Politics:

This doesn't necessarily bode well: Sens. Dean Skelos and Pedro Espada Jr. just announced they have scheduled a session for 3 p.m. with 62 bills on the active list, many of which are "critically important" to counties and cities across the state.

A brief review of the list finds it includes bills sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans, including this little number:

- S4071: Provides for the sanitization of every used mattress or bedding material transported, stored or sold in the state.

Guess who the sponsor is? Sen. Hiram Monserrate.

First though, McNamara is reconvening the court at 1p.m. so we will get to hear his reaction to Espada's idea of compromise. Strong-arm politics is a more apt name for this game and hopefully the judge does not look too kindly on that after he instructed both sides to work together, not over each other. McNamara should heed the warning of Charles Barron, who calls out the hustlers who are putting themselves in charge of this gigantic mess.