Malcolm Smith says party picks him to lead NY Senate majority

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 7, 2009

ALBANY - State Senate Democrats said yesterday they've unanimously chosen state Sen. Malcolm Smith to lead their historic majority.

After a closed-door conference last night, Smith said he is certain he has the support to lead the 32-30 Democratic majority that won in the Nov. 4 election, securing the party's control of the Senate for the first time in 43 years.

It won't be official until today, when senators vote for their leader as the 2009 legislative session opens.

Senate Republicans couldn't be reached for comment late yesterday, but spokesman Mark Hansen has said they will convene and vote to return state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) as majority leader.

Smith, of St. Albans, said he has the support of three Democrats who had threatened to side with Republicans if party leaders didn't meet their demands for lucrative leadership posts and greater attention to Hispanic causes and conservative issues. He needs their support to maintain a majority.

Smith met privately with state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., both of the Bronx, and state Sen. Carl Kruger of Brooklyn.

The dissidents had struck a December deal with Smith, brokered in part by Gov. David A. Paterson, that gave them highly coveted leadership roles and the stipends that go with them as well as a promise to Diaz that a bill to legalize gay marriage would not reach the Senate floor.

But rank-and-file Democrats blasted the deal and Smith, forcing him to scrap the deal he thought would assure a Democratic majority.

The three dissidents were present at the news conference last night when Smith declared his anticipated victory.

Diaz said he was happy with the outcome of talks, but he declined to say if he won his fight to keep the issue of gay marriage off the Senate floor.

"I'm comfortable with whatever is going to happen," Diaz said.

Smith wouldn't say whether he would consider giving the issue a chance on the floor.

Smith was eager to discuss reforms they have planned for the Senate, including one to give rank-and-file members the ability to sponsor and co-sponsor bills regardless of whether they belong to the majority party.

Diaz will lead the Senate Aging Committee, which comes with a $12,500 stipend.

Espada will head the Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee for an extra $12,500 and will serve as the vice chair of the powerful Senate Rules Committee and president of the Senate for Urban Policy.

Kruger will chair the Finance Committee, which comes with a $34,000 stipend.

Other senators received committee assignments yesterday, including Craig Johnson of Port Washington to head the Investigations and Government Operations Committee, and Brian X. Foley of Blue Point, for the Ethics Committee.

Republican state Sen. Frank Padavan of Jamaica Estates can't rejoin the Senate until the recount in his district is completed.