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100 PERCENT By Robert Press Vice-Chairman The Committee of 100 Democrats Pedro Espada Jr. won the democratic primary and the general election in the 33rd state senate district in 2008. The democrats also then took a 32-30 majority in the state senate. However it took less than six months for Senator Espada to align himself with the republican minority, bringing fellow democrat Senator Monserate (of Queens) to throw the New York State Senate into chaos. For 31 days nothing was done as crucial bills expired. The State Senate became a three-ring circus, as Senator Monserate quickly returned to the democratic fold stalemating the senate 31-31 with no Lieutenant Governor to break the deadlock. In ring #1 were the senate democrats who clocked in then clocked out. In ring #2 were the senate republicans doing the same thing. In ring #3 was Governor Patterson who huffed and puffed threatening all the senators with convening a special session everyday (including weekends) until the stalemate was over. Since he was no steamroller (as was the case in the previous governor) Patterson's second act was to appoint a Lieutenant Governor to break the deadlock in the state senate. This act was challenged by senate republicans as to the legality of it in the New York State constitution. No governor had ever appointed his second in command, and as for state-wide vacancies the state legislature selects the replacement, as was the case in Attorney General G. Oliver Koppell, and State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli most recently. There has never been an appointed or selected Lieutenant Governor as prescribed in the state constitution. Even before the legal proceedings will end, the stalemate in the senate has ended as Senator Pedro Espada Jr. has decided to return to the democratic fold, only to be named majority leader by the democrats, second only to Malcolm Smith who Espada had said was not and will not be the senate leader. As for the senate republicans, if you play with fire you are likely to get burned. Remember there is always next year for Espada to change his mind again, or possibly that soon to become vacant upstate democratic senate seat that should be up for grabs in a special election. $36 million dollars and counting. No that is not the cost of the General Motors bailout or the MTA shortfall this year, but how much money Mike Bloomberg has spent so far before anyone has even filed a petition to run for mayor. At this rate he will spend well over $100 million dollars, breaking all records on a local election to brainwash the voting public. It is to bad most of the millions are being spent out of state to generate Bloomcrap. If you have any comments about this column or The Committee of 100 Democrats, you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com , or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press Vice-Chairman, or write to The Committee of 100 Democrats 212 Lisbon Place Bronx N.Y. 10458 Attn Mr. Ricky Martinez Chairman.