Deal off for Dems to control State Senate

source: http://www.newswatch50.com/news/local/story/Deal-off-for-Dems-to-control-State-Senate/jXO4ou8ZbUC08muBqT7lvg.cspx

(AP) New York Senate Democratic leader Malcom Smith says any deal with three dissidents meant to secure his party's hold on the chamber majority is officially off.

Saying he has the support of the Democratic Caucus, Smith says Wednesday he has ceased negotiations with the three, Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Sen.-elect Pedro Espada Jr., both of the Bronx, and Sen. Carl Kruger of Brooklyn.

Their support would give the party a 32-30 majority beginning Jan. 1 after decades of Republican control.

Smith says "personal interests" motivated the three renegades, but he's willing to talk to them individually and to any Republican senators that support the Democratic reform and transparency agendas.

Earlier in the week, Democrats said they had a deal under which Senator Smith would be named the Senate's President Pro Tem and the renegade senators would remain in the Democratic fold.

Smith then announced the appointment of several committee chairs, including north country State Senator Darrel Aubertine as chairman of the Agriculture Committee