In the wake of the arrest of Dean Skleos on corruption charges, state Senate Democrats attempted to force a vote of no confidence in the Republican majority leader, and while they were unsuccessful, Skelos appears to be losing more support. Zack Fink filed the following report.
ALBANY - After trying to force a vote on whether Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos should remain in his position, Democratic state Senator Michael Gianaris eventually had his microphone cut off by Republicans. But the message had gotten out. Democrats have lost confidence in Skelos to lead the chamber.
"I think what's shocking today is the lengths to which the majority will go to to prevent a simple vote," Gianaris said. "The people of New York are entitled to know where their senators stand on this critical issue right now."
After failing to put the senators on the record for whom they might support as a leader, Democrats staged a walkout.
"Distasteful," said Senator James Seward, a Republican from Oneonta, N.Y. "The timing was bad. I think the motives were bad as well."
Skelos and his son, Adam, were charged with six counts of federal corruption Monday. On Tuesday, Skelos was defiant, telling reporters he intends to remain as majority leader.
At an unrelated event in Syracuse, Governor Andrew Cuomo was asked about Skelos.
"If the charges are correct, it's deeply disturbing," Cuomo said.
The governor, though, sidestepped a question about whether Skelos should resign.
"As to who the conference leader should be, the legislature is a separate branch from the executive," Cuomo said. "It's not my place to tell them who their leader should be."
Senate Democrats point out that the editorial boards of most major newspapers have called on Skelos to resign his post.
Perhaps more significantly, Suffolk County's Republican chairman has also joined the chorus of those urging for Skelos to step aside.