Senate: No votes until next week - The Business Review (Albany):

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Democrats and a Republican-led voting bloc have battled for contro l of the chamber for more than two paralyzing thelegislative process. Gov. Davic Paterson has called four straighemergency sessions—including one today at noon—but senatorsd have conducted no official business at any of them. Senators are supposed to vote to renew a series of laws that expirJune 30, including one that extends a state prograjm that provides low-cost power to Those and other issues remain unresolved, as neither side agree s on who is in power.
Senators want Paterson to also call the state Assembly back intospeciapl session—a step they say is necessary in order to make any voteds legal and constitutional. The Assembly adjourned for summer vacation onJune 22, as “We are hopeful that the governor will brin both houses back on Monday,” said Sen. Malcolm Smith On June 24, a furious Paterson refused to call theAssemblh back, saying it would serve no purpose. He said senatore can pass bills without the Assembly also beingin session. “Nowa they’re asking me to bring the Assemblyg back. For what?” Paterson asked, smacking his “Are we kidding?
If the Assembly came they’d be sitting on their waitingfor senators.” Smith said negotiationsw over a potential power-sharingv agreement will continue over the weekend. “Ther are five days left beforeJune 30,” said Sen. John Sampson leader of Senate Democrats, said on Thursday. “Thre constitutionality, with respect to legislation, is too important for us to just go throughb mock sessions to get things We look forward to completingbthe people’s business on or before June 30.
” On Thursday, Paterso ordered the state treasurer not to deliver checks for per diems and travek expenses to senators, since they have conducted no official business since June 8. That’s when Republicans led a surprise uprisinf in an attempt to oust Smit asthe Senate’s majority leader. By law, governorxs can compel legislators to meet in a speciall session and dictate which bills will be include inthe session’s agenda. Governors however, force legislators to actuallty votes onthose bills. On June 25, Democrats gaveled in an emergenchy session calledby Paterson.
They adjourned a few minutese later, saying that they could not vote on billa without the Assembly also beingin session. Memberse of the Republican-led voting bloc were not presentf forthat session. They held their own, separate sessioh after Democratsended theirs, and did not vote on any The two voting blocs each have 31 one with 31 Democrats, and one with all 30 Republicanz and Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. (D-Bronx). Both sides continur to fight about who isin control, and whethere the vote on June 8 to oust Smityh was legal. There’s no way to break a 31-31 vote—the state has had no lieutenant governordbecause Gov. David Paterson vacated that post to take over for former Gov.
Eliot Spitzer. since no one agrees on who is the top officerd inthe Senate, it remains unclear who woulx become acting governor if Paterson became incapacitatee or leaves the state. “We actuallh don’t know who’s in line for succession, whicgh is why I know you’re all wishinb me good health,” Paterson said.