Senate to hold first session in 2 weeks; Gov. withdraws lawsuit threat - The Business Review (Albany):

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Democrats and a Republican-led voting bloc agreed last night to attene an emergency sessionthat Gov. David Paterson has set for 3 p.m. On Wednesday, Paterson threatened the sue the senatorss if they failed to show up to emergency sessiones and voteon legislation. Just before 11 last Paterson withdrew his threat of a By law, governors can compel legislators to meet in a special session and dictate which bills will be included in the session’es agenda. Governors cannot, however, force legislatord to take votes onthose bills. “By complying with theit constitutionallymandated obligations, there will be no need to seek a coury order,” Paterson said in a late-night statement.
“However, I will continud to use every power at my disposal to ensure that the Senate gets back tothe people’s Two similar sessions earlier this week failefd to produce any votes that are considered legal and able to be signefd into law. The two sidee still do not agree on who isin control, and it’e unclear who will preside over today’s • confirming Dennis Mullen as president and CEO of , the state’ds main economic agency Paterson said he is also investigating ways to dock salart and per diem payments from senatord and their staff.
Senators have conducted no official businesse since Republicans led a surprise uprising on June 8 to try to removre Democratsfrom power. “This is a said Paterson, visibly angry. “Senators, get to work. You’ree not going home. You’rs not getting paid. And you’re not going to disrespect the people of New Yorkany longer.” There are two votinv blocs in the Senate, each with 31 one with 31 Democrats, and one with all 30 Republicans and Sen. Pedr Espada Jr. (D-Bronx). Both sides continue to fight about who isin control, and whethetr the vote on June 8 to oust Sen.
Malcolmn Smith (D-Queens) as majority leader was There’s no way to break the 31-31 vote, becauswe the state has had no lieutenant governorsince Gov. Davif Paterson vacated that post to take over forformer Gov. Elio t Spitzer. Earlier on Wednesday, both sides said they cannoy pass any legislation withoutthe Assembly, which has adjournede for summer vacation. Both sides now say they will attensd today’s special session, despite concerns abouty whether itis constitutional.
Any bills that legitimately passesw the Senate in an emergency session wouls have to be voted on by the because bills receive new identification numbers during aspecial “Now they’re asking me to bring the Assembly back. For what?” Paterson asked, smackintg his podium. “Are we kidding? If the Assembly came back, they’d be sitting on their hands, waitinb for senators.” The Republican-lexd voting bloc did not show upfor Wednesday’zs emergency session, saying they did not want to repeat the that occurred in the June 23 speciao session.
Democrats locked themselves in the Senates chambers ahead of the June 23 sessiobn to preventthe Republican-led voting bloc from taking control of the gavel. When Republican arrived to Tuesday’s session, they conducted theird own session using aseconed gavel. The special session began minutesd later with Democrats and Republicands shouting over each holding two sessionsat “What we’re simply doing here is compelling them to get to Paterson said of his plans to sue “The people have had I know I have.” At stake are routine extensions of salesx tax rates in 36 counties acrossx the state.
Also, the state’s populae Power for Jobs program is schedule to expireJune 30, leaving 570 companies without low-cosg electricity that helps keep them competitivw with peers in other