Withers: Monserrate loses in special election

At least for now Hiram Monserrate [1] is on permanent leave from Albany. The disgraced politician was easily beaten in tonight’s 13th State Senate District special election [2]. With 35 percent of the vote counted, he pulled in 34 percent while Senator elect Jose R. Peralta garnered 60. Republican challenger Robert Beltrani was third with six percent.

We’ve covered the whole Monserrate mess, from the misdemeanor assault conviction of his former girlfriend to his tacit support of anti-gay fliers, so I’ll repeat nothing tonight. It’s good to know this guy is gone from doing the people’s business.

[1] http://www.365gay.com/blog/031610-will-hiram-monserrate-be-gone-after-tonight/
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/nyregion/17hiram.html

Withers: Will Hiram Monserrate be gone after tonight?

As you most of you know Hiram Monserrate gets no love here. There’s that misdemeanor domestic assault conviction, his summer machinations to halt work in Albany, and those anti-gay fliers he refuses to denounce. Today the voters in the New York’s 13th senate district get a choice between Monserrate, Assemblyman …

Withers: Fighting back against Monserrate

As many of you know, New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate is a worm. There is that misdemeanor assault conviction against his girlfriend, getting booted out of the state Senate, and his ability to compare himself to murdered civil rights workers.

And who can forget his efforts to make Albany more …

Withers: NY senate expels Monserrate

Hiram Monserrate has been expelled from the New York Senate. The Queens Democrat, who was convicted last fall on misdemeanor domestic assault of his girlfriend, had little support from his colleagues who voted overwhelmingly, 53 to 8, to give him the boot.

The Monserrate saga is another black eye on a …

Two Anti-Gay Marriage Dems Cut Deal With Republicans to shift NY Senate to GOP control

ALBANY, N.Y. — Republicans and two dissident Democrats took control of New York’s Senate on Monday after the two New York City renegades voted with the GOP to throw the fledgling Democratic majority out of power.

The decision by senators Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens to join the coalition gave Republicans a 32-30 voting edge on hastily introduced measures that changed the leadership structure. Neither Espada nor Monserrate changed party affiliation.

Democrats held the Senate for barely five months after being out of power for four decades.

Shortly after the coup, Republicans named Espada temporary president of the Senate and Republican Dean Skelos of Nassau County vice president and majority leader. Skelos was majority leader in 2008.

Those are the most powerful positions in the chamber. With them, the bipartisan coalition can direct legislation and reassign committee and leadership posts.

Democrats tried to leave the chamber, even turning off the lights briefly, and are expected to challenge Monday’s action in court.

The coup throws into doubt the movement to legalize same-sex marriage, one of the major policy issues still pending for the last two weeks of the regular session. Although passed in the Democrat-led Assembly, it is stalled in the Senate. Several Republicans and Sen. Ruben Diaz, a Bronx Democrat oppose the measure.

See Two Anti-Gay Marriage Dems Cut Deal With Republicans

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