Senators from north stymied by stalemate

State senators must put aside political differences, end their stalemate and attend to time-sensitive business before Monday's recess.

On this point, Sens. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, and Joseph A. Griffo, R-Rome, find no disagreement. It's how to get there where their parties can't find common ground.

"There's a lot of important issues out there, not the least of which is Power for Jobs, which is a huge issue for our part of the state," Mr. Aubertine said. "But without Pedro Espada and the Republicans willing to come to the table and discuss anything, it's pretty difficult."

Thirty-one Democrats, including Mr. Aubertine, have proposed a power-sharing proposal to a coalition of 30 Republicans and their Democratic ally, Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. The operating agreement, which would be in effect until Tuesday's recess, would rotate the Senate's presiding officers and floor leaders between the parties as well as create a three-Democrat, three-Republican conference committee to decide which bills to take to the floor.

The primarily Republican coalition has proposed a far more direct solution.

"You're here. Go to work," Mr. Griffo said. "It's appalling and outrageous behavior by the Democrats to refuse to show up when you're being paid to address legislation."

The Senate needs 32 legislators to have a quorum and conduct business.

"There's no reason we should not leave here without respecting and acting on the home rule legislation and deal with the extenders or any other thing that has an economic impact," said Mr. Griffo, who also mentioned Power for Jobs, the incentive-based state program that trades low-cost power for job retention and growth among private businesses. The program is due to expire June 30 unless the Senate extends it.

But Democrats appear unwilling to return to the chamber without an agreement because it could solidify a leadership vote that put Mr. Espada and Sen. Dean G. Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, into the Senate president and majority leader positions, respectively.

Mr. Aubertine called the coalition's June 8 coup a "stunt," adding it was a "huge setback for every taxpayer of the state."

"They've really painted themselves in a corner here by destroying a lot of trust," he said. Despite this, he said, Democrats are extending an olive branch by offering a "very fair" bipartisan leadership arrangement.

"We're trying to open a dialogue," he said.

Mr. Griffo said the Espada-Skelos leadership shouldn't change, but added committee chairmanships could be hammered out later because no committee is scheduled to meet again before the Senate recess.

Mr. Aubertine said he would relinquish his Energy or Agriculture committee chairmanship "in a heartbeat to get the Senate back on track and move everyone back on the floor."

Both men suggested shared committee chairmanships could be an option during negotiations.

"Ultimately, someone is going to see the wisdom of getting back to work here and, hopefully, sooner rather than later," Mr. Aubertine said.