WAMC: Women's Organizations Demand Senator's Removal (2009-10-22)

WAMC New York News

Women's Organizations Demand Senator's Removal

Dave Lucas (2009-10-22)

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Hiram Monserrate (D) is a member of the New York State Senate. He represents the 13th District which includes the Queens neighborhood of Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst and Woodside.

ALBANY, NY (WAMC) - As the New York State Senate prepares to decide Hiram Monserrate's fate, women's organizations have been speaking out, demanding his resignation. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.

The National Women's Political Caucus is the latest women's organization to speak out joining with others including the National Organization for Women, The New Agenda, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee. Senator Monserrate was convicted of a misdemeanor for assaulting his girlfriend. The Queens democrat was acquitted of felony charges, which would have forced him to give up his legislative seat, but the Senate still has the power to remove him from office. Donna Lent, President of the NY Chapter of the NWPC, is calling on Monserrate to resign immediately. Both U.S. senators from New York are also urging Monserrate to step down... Lent chided Senator Rubin Diaz, who defended Monserrate by saying that the Democrats asking him to resign, are white.

A committee, consisting of five Democrats and four Republicans and chaired by Democartic Senator Eric Schneiderman, will review Senate laws and precedent and could call for Monserrate to be removed or sanctioned. The matter would then go to the Senate floor, to be decided by a simple majority vote.