The circus known as the New York State Senate continued on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, as Democrats entered the Senate chamber at about 12:30 PM in an attempt to preempt a Republican-controlled session at 2:00 PM.  The Republicans were coming in before a 3:00 PM special (or what is sometimes called extraordinary) session called by Governor David Paterson.

At first press were locked out of the Senate chamber, but then Senator Pedro Espada (D – Bronx) circumvented the other Democrats in control of the chamber by allowing journalists access to the Senate Gallery through his Capitol offices. Eventually other press people were allowed onto the floor of the chamber.

What resulted was Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D – Yonkers) at the podium presiding over a Democrat-controlled session and Senator George Winner (R – Elmira) presiding over a parallel Republican-controlled session from the floor of the Senate chamber. 

Microphones and a live video feed of the session are controlled by the Democrat-controlled Secretary of the Senate Angelo Aponte.  The video feed and microphones were up and running so long as Senator Stewart-Cousins or Senator Malcolm Smith (D – Queens) was speaking, but whenever a Republican tried to speak, the video and microphones were turned off.

The Republicans held their session and adjourned.  They contend that the bills they passed during their session were legal because a quorum of thirty-two senators was present.  The Republicans adjourned and left, but the Democrats went forward in passing five of fifty-five bills that the Governor had hoped to see pass today.  Democrats could only attempt to pass five of the over fifty intended bills, because apparently the Governor’s office failed to prepare the necessary paperwork for the session that he called.