Democratic State Senator-elect Simcha Felder of Brooklyn says he?ll caucus with the Republican conference ? a development that brings the GOP?s tally to 31, one vote shy of a working majority. This increases the size of the question mark hanging over the four-member Independent Democratic Conference, which has so far been noncommittal in its comments on who they?ll throw their loyalty to.
An even bigger question mark, of course, floats over the pending results in the Senate race between Assemblyman George Amedore and Cecilia Tkaczyk, one of whom will be somebody?s 32nd member.
It?s unclear why this statement is coming out now, unless Felder and his new GOP friends are hoping to create a sense of momentum to carry the IDC into their embrace.
Here?s his statement, as first reported by YNN?s State of Politics:
From the moment I began my campaign for Senate, I made clear that the priorities of my district will form my agenda in Albany.
I represent a middle-class community with substantial concerns about the direction of our State. And I have been clear that I will work with any group of Senators who have real economic development and jobs-encouragement ideas, who plan to bring substantial tax relief to the people who elected me, who have compassion for the poor and respect for the middle class, who support the improvement of public education and a plan to ease the burden of tuition-paying parents across New York.
Earlier today, I met with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. We discussed the issues that concern my constituents. By joining him and the Senate Majority Conference I will be able to serve the people who elected me, and advance a legislative agenda that best meets their needs.
Accordingly, when the next Senate meets in January 2013, I will caucus with my colleagues in the Republican conference. I have enormous respect for the Senators from both parties, but I must choose to caucus with those Senators who will best serve the communities I represent.
And here?s an attaboy statement from Skelos:
I am very pleased to welcome Senator-elect Simcha Felder to the Senate Republican Conference.
Mr. Felder has shared with me the issues that are most important to his constituents, including economic development and job creation, reducing taxes and providing financial relief for hardworking families.? Those have been our priorities in the past and will continue to be our priorities as we begin the next legislative session.
Senator-elect Felder will be a valuable member of our conference as we work to address the concerns raised by his community and continue to move this state forward.
And an all-is-well statement from Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy:
The voters sent a clear message on election night that they want the Senate led by a Democratic Majority. We are confident that when the Senate convenes in January, there will be that Democratic Majority and we look forward to working with Governor Cuomo to achieve the progressive agenda he has laid out.?
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