Democrats Revise Some Senate Rules, Plan More Changes Later ALBANY, NEW YORK (WXXI) - Senate Democrats, at the start of their first full week in power, moved to change some of the rules of the chamber to empower rank and file members. But some critics, including Republicans, who are now in the minority, say the changes don't go far enough.

The Democrats opened up the rules of the Senate to allow dissenting Senators to offer motions to discharge, and to allow members of the minority party to co-sponsor bills, privileges that Democrats were denied when the Senate was controlled by Republicans.

"Rank and file members will be treated with respect," said Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.

Senator Smith has also appointed a bi partisan task force to come up with more rules changes by mid April. It will be co-chaired by Senator David Valesky, a Democrat from Syracuse, and Senator John Bonacic, a Republican from the Hudson Valley.

But Republicans complained that they will be outnumbered two to one on the task force, and that by the time the report is issued, the session will be more than half over.
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