WAMC New York News
(2009-06-15)
BUFFALO
(wned) -
The flip-flopping continues in the State Senate. Dissident Democrat Hiram Monserrate says he is back with the Democratic conference, one week after he was part of a group of 30 Republicans and two Democrats who voted to replace the Democratic leadership.
Senate Democrats have agreed to put Sen. John Sampson in a new position in which he will be in charge of daily operations of the chamber. But Sen. Malcolm Smith insists he is still the Senate Majority Leader.
That leaves the Senate in a 31-31 split among its 62-members.
A state justice is giving both sides until Tuesday morning to agree to a new leadership structure.
Meanwhile, businessman Tom Golisano, who helped orchestrate the shake-up, says his goal is to force government reform to make the state more attractive to businesses.
"There's a lot of competition between states. We're not competitive," Golisano said.
Golisano was interviewed on WXXI radio in Rochester in a program that aired on WNED AM 970.
© Copyright 2012, wned
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