NYAPRS Note: 5 NYS Democratic Senators who had formed a coalition with Republicans to govern Senate legislation and policies announced their plans to re-integrate within the Democratic Party, adding to efforts by the Democrats to re-take the Senate in the coming year. This will pull the Senate and perhaps Governor Cuomo more to the left. Stay tuned!
Klein Says Goodbye To Coalition With Senate GOP; Cuomo Says Good
By Tom Precious Buffalo News June 25, 2014
ALBANY — Here is the statement by Senate co-leader Jeff Klein and Gov. Andrew Cuomo will work to form a new coalition with main Democratic conference after November elections:
Senator Jeffrey D. Klein said, “The Independent Democratic Conference has served as a strong, stabilizing, sensible force for governing in New York State for four years. Under a first-of-its kind bipartisan, coalition government the IDC ushered in a functioning New York State Senate and delivered unprecedented results for working families, including four consecutive on-time budgets, passing the toughest gun control laws in the nation, marriage equality, an increase to the minimum wage, universal pre-k for thousands of toddlers and the safe, regulated use of medical marijuana.
“Yet as we reflect on these past achievements, it is also clear that core Democratic policy initiatives that the IDC championed remain unfinished. As Democrats, the IDC remains committed to the fight for an equal education for all New York students – which the Dream Act would provide, protecting a woman’s right to choose, increasing workers’ wages, and enacting meaningful campaign finance reform. I agree with Governor Cuomo that these are progressive priorities we must pass.
“Therefore all IDC members are united and agree to work together to form a new majority coalition between the Independent Democratic Conference and the Senate Democratic Conference after the November elections in order to deliver the results that working families across this state still need and deserve.”
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said, “I applaud the IDC’s decision. There is no doubt that we have accomplished much for the state over the past four years. We have transformed the state government from dysfunctional to highly functional, a deficit to a surplus, and losing jobs to gaining jobs. There is also no doubt there are progressive goals that we have yet to achieve and that we must accomplish next January.”