Last Minute Session Negotiations

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

District 32 Bronx County, New York

Tel 718-991-3161

LAST MINUTE SESSION NEGOTIATIONS

You should know that during these last days of the New York State 2014 Senate Session, some very interesting things are happening.

By this time of the year, when the session is about to end, it is traditional to see all the deal makers and shakers going from one place to another trying to get their projects and pieces of legislation passed before everyone goes back home for the rest of the year.

You should know that the number one topic here in Albany is about Senators Jeff Klein, Diane Savino, David Carlucci, David Valesky and Tony Avella, members of the Democratic breakaway faction making a political arrangement with the Republicans to maintain control of the State Senate.

After the face-saving arrangement between New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Working Families Party and after all the promises and full of air commitment, and talks of both the Governor and the leader of the Working Families Party to bring the members of the Democratic Party back to become one in order for the Democrats to get control of the Senate. Now, the people are becoming aware that everything was a show for the media and a way for the Governor to get the party endorsement and the Working Families Party to assure their 50,000 votes on Election Day in order to keep being an official political party in New York State.

You should know that now the Governor is making and giving all kinds of excuses and reasons why he is not doing what he had promised and the Working Families Party is…well doing what they do best.

Meanwhile, Senator Jeff Klein is facing a primary by ex-New York State Comptroller Oliver Koppell and Senator Tony Avella is facing a primary by ex-New York City Comptroller John Liu.

The other day, Tony Avella was seen in the hallways of the Legislative Office Building taking some lessons from the members of the Bricklayers Local #1 on how to lay out bricks. It seems that Senator Avella was trying to learn a new skill and become an expert in bricklaying, just in case!

A day before, The New York Post reported that the Independent Democratic Conference led by Senator Jeff Klein and the Regular Democratic Conference presided by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins were involved in a dialogue to see how they could join together and do away with the Republicans.

The problem with the article is that it reported that in order for that to happen the “kingmakers” have to agree on making sure that the opponents of Jeff Klein and Tony Avella and every other person who is trying to oppose any member of Klein’s group will have to “cease and desist” and practically drop out of sight, out of view, and out of the primary.

You should know that after this report came out everyone started to panic, some worry that their power and control, e.g. Committee Chairs, good offices, staff and “lulus,” could soon be gone. Others, like Senators Timothy Kennedy and Gustavo Rivera started to ask: “What about us?” Rumor has it that they may be thrown to the wolves.

It is important for you to know that both Tim Kennedy and Gustavo Rivera and even Andrea Stewart-Cousins, have their opponents raising money, collecting petitions and telling everyone who wants to listen that they are in it to stay and that there is no way for them to “cease and desist” with their challenges. So it will be very interesting to see who at the end will be faced with a primary and who will be the sacrificial lamb.

You should know that in the end, the bottom line is that all these kinds of negotiations are illegal under the law, they are quid pro quo, they are immoral, they are unethical and people could get into big trouble if all these rumors are true. Only the future will tell us.

I am State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.