Albany, NY, Jan 05, 2011 — The Senate Democratic conference, now in the minority in that house, just got four seats smaller. As Karen DeWitt reports, a new faction of Democrats says Senator John Sampson has "failed" as leader, and announced they are forming their own independent Democratic caucus.  Go to full article

Dec 10, 2010 — When New York's legislature convenes next session, Republicans will once again hold a razor-thin majority in the state Senate. That could give the North Country more influence at the capitol. All three North Country senators, Joe Griffo, Patty Ritchie, and Betty Little, are Republicans.

The stronger North Country voice comes as important decisions are being made, decisions that will have deep impact in the region: funding for healthcare and schools and the future of state facilities like prions and Sunmount.
Martha Foley spoke with Brian Mann about the coming shift in power.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Nov 19, 2010 — The state's chief judge has issued an order to all judges involved in the legal wrangles over three undecided State Senate races. Judge Jonathan Lippman says all court action must be done by the end of the year.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 14, 2010 — Albany correspondent Karen DeWitt sat down with Gov. David Paterson for an exclusive interview yesterday, after the governor had delivered his new revenue bills, and the lawmakers had refused to accept them. The bills lay in stacks in the halls of the capitol as they spoke.  Go to full article

Jul 01, 2010 — Governor David Paterson this morning began the lengthy process of vetoing the nearly 6,900 line items the legislature added to its budget bills. He said, in no uncertain terms, that he's done negotiating. Karen DeWitt has more on the continuing struggle between Paterson and state lawmakers over the final stages of New York's budget.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 19, 2010 — Governor Paterson has issued a third round of bills to keep New York State government running as the state enters a third week with no budget. He's authorizing only the bare minimum of spending necessary to keep the state running. He's already held up construction projects, and state worker raises of four percent that were to have taken effect this month.Unions have filed a grievance. In addition, the governor is withholding an over $2 billion dollar payment to schools, saying New York is short on cash.

The legislature left town last week without progress on the budget. When they come back today, they'll have to agree on Governor Paterson's latest round of spending extenders, or risk a government shut down.

But building animosity is getting in the way of real budget progress. Partisan bickering was particularly bad in the state Senate, where the fight for control of the chamber in the November elections is intense. Democrats and Republican aren't talking to each other much, but they're talking abouteach other plenty. Karen DeWitt has more on the impact of the state Senate's internal politics.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 12, 2010 — New York's budget is late -- again -- and getting later. While talks go on, the new Democratic majority leaders in the state Senate say they never really understood how bad the traditional process for writing New York's budgets was, and now that they're in the thick of it themselves, they want change. Republicans, who presided over the Senate for 40 some years, are scoffing. Karen DeWitt has today's story from the capitol.  Go to full article

Jun 24, 2009 — Governor Paterson's attempts to force a meeting of the state Senate degenerated into confusion and chaos. The warring factions held dueling sessions in the Senate chamber. Senators passed numerous bills but the Governor's lawyers questioned the legality of the proceedings. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Cape Vincent, NY, Jun 19, 2009 — Speculation that North Country Democrat Darrel Aubertine might join the GOP-dominated coalition in the state Senate built Thursday when he talked with Republicans about a temporary power sharing strategy to move bills through the deadlocked Senate.(see related story)

Speaking from back in his district this morning, he told Martha Foley he was interested in a temporary plan to move bills through the Senate in the next few days. He said the deal broke down when Republicans refused to "back away" from their insistence that renegade Democratic Senator Pedro Espada remain as Senate president Pro Tem, even when Democrats were having their turn at controlling the chamber.

Aubertine said talks are continuing, and that he has hopes the Senate will be able to work out a way to cooperate to get critical legislation through this session. Here's their conversation.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jun 19, 2009 — (TEXT ONLY) The fight for control of the state Senate enter its 12th day today. There were negotiations behind closed doors yesterday. And the Republicans-plus-one coalition members convened in the Senate, but didn't have the quorum necessary to do business. That briefly focused a bright light of speculation on North Country Democrat Darrel Aubertine.

Rules of the chamber require a quorum of 32 Senators. But the Democratic and Republican-dominated voting blocs are evenly split, 31-31. And Democrats have refused to physically enter the Senate chamber since the coalition "coup" last week.

Yesterday, it appeared Aubertine would enter the chamber. Republican leader Dean Skelos says Aubertine asked the coalition to vote on renewing "Power for Jobs." The program ensures low-cost electricity for companies employing large numbers of workers in the North Country.

Speaking with reporters yesterday afternoon, Skelos said he asked Aubertine to join them in the chamber, "but he's opted not to."

Aubertine confirmed to the Albany Times Union that he was prepared to work with Republicans in order to renew "Power for Jobs." Spokesman Drew Mangione says that action was contingent on a bipartisan power agreement only. He said Aubertine was never considering becoming part of a Dean Skelos- or Pedro Espada-led coalition.

Yesterday afternoon, Aubertine issued a statement calling Democrat Espada's leadership role "unacceptable" and demanded that his title be revoked.  Go to full article