My neighbor suggested that my blog on the U.S. Senate on Monday should be sent to N.Y. state Senator George Winner. "You know, that part about engaging across party lines to get something accomplished? What a concept."
Agreed, something needs to be done to break the logjam in Albany. But on Monday I was addressing the issues of a functional political body. The state senate has not been functional since the Republican coup on June 8 made possible when two freshmen Democratic senators switched sides.
One of those rogue Democrats switched back, creating an even worse situation of a 31-31 tie. Since then the situation has degraded beyond dysfunctional into toddlerlike playground tantrums. One side even declared a quorum and passed legislation just because an opposing senator snuck into the chambers to get a drink. This was followed by debate that did not seem to rise above the level of "Am not!" and "Are too!"
It has been painful to watch and harder even to come up with any useful commentary about the situation. What can one say when the grownups act so childish?
OK, I will say this to the senators: This is not the reason we sent you to Albany. You are wasting your time, our time and our money. Important legislation sits and rots while you conduct a fight that has trademarks of the battle in Lilliput from Gulliver's travels over the proper way for one to crack an egg.
The state comptroller is seeking an opinion on withholding pay and expenses for senators, I hope he succeeds.
But the real problem is that New York has a serious problem in its constitution.
On Monday, the attorney general ruled that the governor cannot appoint a lieutenant governor to break the tie. The office has remained vacant since Patterson ascended to governor after Spitzer resigned in disgrace. And that is turning out to be a serious flaw in the constitution.
Here's my suggestion:
The two sides need to negotiate a way to select a lieutenant governor who can break tie votes and resolve the crisis. Perhaps for this one time that should be done through arbitration or a nonpartisan commission. I would hope that they could find someone who both sides would be comfortable with, who can break the logjam and allow the work of passing legislation to resume.
They would do this as a one-time deal with the understanding that this would be followed by a fully vetted amendment to the state constitution that would allow for a lieutenant governor to be replaced, perhaps in some sort of nonpartisan way.
Either way, whoever it is who can reach across the aisle and find a solution to this crisis will have the gratitude of the voters.
In the meantime, Wednesday is July 8 and will mark one month since the coup. If they still cannot find a solution, it will be an ignominious anniversary. More and more New Yorkers will join in the cry of "Throw them all out!"
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