A source who has been involved in the ongoing negotiations to end the Senate stalemate called in to report that a deal has been reached and Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. has agreed to return to the Democratic fold.
"He's coming back," was all the source would say.
Another source told DN Capitol Bureau Chief Ken Lovett: "He would not come back as president pro tem, and I know he would not come back in any capacity where I would need to actually take a vote for him."
The Democrats are about to go into conference to discuss the alleged deal.
Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. would say only: "The amigos said Thursday. Today is Thursday. You'll know before 5 o'clock." The amigos just went in to Espada's fourth floor Capitol office, outside which members of the LCA have gathered, according to the DN's Glenn Blain.
UPDATE1: Blain said he spotted Tom Golisano adviser Steve Pigeon, who had been hoping for a job with Espada, pacing back and forth in the Senate gallery outside Espada's office, looking agitated and talking on his cell phone.
UPDATE2: Another source told Blain Sen. Malcolm Smith will continue to be president pro tem. Espada and Sen. John Sampson will be co-majority leaders. The deal was reached just-before midnight yesterday, this source says.
Espada confirmed the deal to the Post, but didn't mention that he's going to have to share his title with Sampson.
UPDATE3: Apparently, the co-majority leader line was a red herring. There will be one majority leader - Espada - but none of the members will have to vote for him. He will be appointed by Smith, who will remain pro tem for the moment, to be replaced "after a transition period" by Sampson, according to a Senate Democrat.
This comes about three weeks after Espada's fellow coup-starting turncoat, Sen. Hiram Monserrate, returned to the arms of the Democrats, deadlocking the Senate at 31-31.
UPDATE4: Espada was insisting as recently as last night that he would not abandon his Republican allies in favor of returning to the Democrats, telling Lovett: "I’m not part of any deal. People have been floating deals. I’m staying firm. I’m part of the bipartisan coalition.”
"The only thing I’m vying for is what I obtained on June 8 - Senate president," Espada said.
We have heard many times now that a deal was near, only to see it fall apart at the last minute.
One sign that this time it's for real: The Senate Republicans abruptly cancelled their 2:30 p.m. press conference.
Espada recently has shown signs of softening his "I must be president pro tem" stance that he has adopted since the June 8 coup vote.
This isn't the first time there has been an offer on the table to make him majority leader.
That was a key element of the deal offered last December to Espada by Smith. The agreement was rejected by rank-and-filed Democrats who balked at providing the Bronx lawmaker with that much power.
The majority leader job was again on the table just a few weeks ago, according to Sen. Diane Savino.
But that, too, fell through and an increasing number of Democrats have been insisting - at least publicly - that they wouldn't accept him back in their ranks under any circumstances.
Backroom talks have apparently intensified since Gov. David Paterson's announcement yesterday that he would appoint Richard Ravitch to be lieutenant governor and preside over the deadlocked chamber, although Ravitch could not provide either side with a quorum and it's questionable as to whether he could even cast tie-breaking votes.
Power-sharing talks between the two warring factions broke down in the face of the Ravitch announcement, however. Both the GOP/Espada faction and the Democrats confirmed last night that they had called off their negotiations.
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BJ99999
July 9, 2009
1:45 PM
Nice backbone Espada. So it was just a powerplay for you all along.
11201
July 9, 2009
1:48 PM
Oh well....
Rog Murdock
July 9, 2009
1:51 PM
I guess we finally found out who is client #10.
hjo4
July 9, 2009
1:57 PM
He'll be toast soon enough so will Hiram the WOMAN BEATER. Revenge is a Dish best served COLD.
Cincinnatus
July 9, 2009
2:00 PM
This seems like the appropriate end to the past 4 weeks of chaos.
truebomberfan
July 9, 2009
2:00 PM
did anyone really expect any other outcome?
lpcustom123
July 9, 2009
2:01 PM
Somebody just stab this guy....please.
KISSARMY
July 9, 2009
2:03 PM
HAHAHAHAHAH WHAT A LOSER AND YET WE KEEP THIS SCUMBAG IN THERE
KISSARMY
July 9, 2009
2:04 PM
HAHAHAHAHAH WHAT A LOSER AND YET WE KEEP THIS SCUMBAG IN THERE
chalklounge
July 9, 2009
2:04 PM
Always encouraging to watch our tax dollars being so well spent.
KISSARMY
July 9, 2009
2:04 PM
UNBELEIVABLE !
Nature'sBeauty
July 9, 2009
2:05 PM
We need to remember these names of who not to vote for come next year!!! The whole lot needs to be replaced!!
alan m
July 9, 2009
2:11 PM
Sounds like a capitulation rather than a deal.
BJ99999
July 9, 2009
2:12 PM
Hmmm...so do the Dems still think that Espada is representing a district that he does not live in? Do they still feel as though he is the dirty politician they thought he was over the past four weeks? So dirty they are willing to make him a Co-Majority Leader? If I were a Democrat, I'd be so proud right now! This is the face of your party in this wonderful state.
tinaseals
July 9, 2009
2:16 PM
My name is TINA SEALS - I am running against Mr. Pedro Espada, Jr in 2010 -- visit me at www.facebook.com/ladytinaseals or www.tinaseals.com www.tinaseals.net for more info on how you can support me for NY STATE SENATE SEAT 33
stoprewindplay
July 9, 2009
2:17 PM
This is so sad that these guys can't pull their heads out of their behinds to see that they are really hurting NYC,which is hurting already. I am marking the date on my calender right now. I am going to try my best to get these bums out of office. I'm so over this
bobuhc
July 9, 2009
2:23 PM
This is ridiculous, if these legislators' staff behaved this way they would be fired. Come November, if not before, we need to fire these clowns.
Cincinnatus
July 9, 2009
2:29 PM
According to the Post, Espada has a deal to become Majority Leader.
I think the Dems shoudl accept it just so the State can move beyond all of this.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07092009/news/regionalnews/espada_returning_to_democrats_178394.htm
cp retiree
July 9, 2009
2:31 PM
To repeat:
People tend to have short memories. So with little else at my disposal, I’ll try to periodically post the following reminder, between now and Election Day; and I encourage anyone of like mind to do the same:
Don’t forget the ineptitude and ineffectiveness that our State Senators displayed during June and July, 2009!
They brought the Legislative Branch of NYS government to a screeching halt, and for weeks made us the laughing stock of the entire country.
We elected them to do a job, but they refused to work together, and selfishly put their own best interests ahead of the public good.
The NYS Senate has shown that it’s in a pathetic state of disrepair, and our only opportunity to fix it is to vote them all out in 2010, and start fresh. To re-elect any of them would be like stamping “APPROVED” on their abysmal job performance.
BJ99999
July 9, 2009
2:32 PM
it'd be funny now if 2 different Dems jumped shipped to the GOP because of the Espada deal. Then we can all start this again.
11201
July 9, 2009
2:33 PM
One thing is for sure - you won't hear Republicans whining like the Democrats have been doing since June 8th.
sean sanity
July 9, 2009
2:35 PM
The irony of many of the previous comments is that people have been clamoring for our Senators to end the gridlock and get us out of this mess...and well, the end might finally be here. We can talk about primaries and elections another day. For today, let's just appreciate the fact that the chaos and inaction of the past month might be over.
cp retiree
July 9, 2009
2:39 PM
[it'd be funny now if 2 different Dems jumped shipped to the GOP because of the Espada deal. Then we can all start this again.]
Priceless.
And I'd put Breslin at the top of the list, after he recently called for Espada's indictment and conviction, as the only way to move things along. Said he didn't want him back as a part of their conference. Film at 11.
taxpayur
July 9, 2009
2:39 PM
I used to be disgusted, but now I'm just amused.
- Elvis Costello
alan m
July 9, 2009
2:41 PM
(One thing is for sure - you won't hear Republicans whining like the Democrats have been doing since June 8th.)
Wanna bet??
BJ99999
July 9, 2009
2:41 PM
Sean Sanity.....the chaos has been going on with tax increases and poor leadership. I might have been one of few NY'ers who applauded the Coalition for standing their ground. They were right in what they did and were doing, full understand that they had years to make the changes they so now crave, but the Democrats ran on a platform that called for change and they did not change. They did not want three men in a room, they did not want a power heavy leade. What do we have now.....all the same.
If the Democrats were in control of the Senate and making changes that benefitted the tax payers of this state, I would gladly acknowledge that and even support them in their efforts, but they are not and I will not. Maybe this will serve as a wake up call to them, but if this is where the state is headed, it is not good.
11201
July 9, 2009
2:42 PM
[Wanna bet??]
Yes.
Albany_Exile
July 9, 2009
3:40 PM
[[One thing is for sure - you won't hear Republicans whining like the Democrats have been doing since June 8th.]]
I'd be surprised if we didn't.
Maybe they'll hold off for a week or two, maybe not.
We'll see!