The four (white) members of the new Independent Democratic Caucus were sitting in a row at the back of the New York State Senate chamber today, next to Republican Sen. Kemp Hannon. The seat assignment, made by the Republican majority, apparently upset the regular Democratic minority conference. Democratic Deputy Leader Sen. Neil Breslin raised a point of order, supported by Sen. Daniel Squadron and -- in incendiary mode -- Sen. Eric Adams.
Adams, himself an African-American, suggested the Republicans were discriminating against regular Democrats in their office and seating assignments, and asked whether Sen. Velmanette Montgomery was targeted "because she's African-American" and Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer "because she's a woman." Adams said Sen. Jeff Klein, leader of the IDC, had lied about the situation, that Republicans and the IDC were engaged in "the dismantling of dignity and respect to each one of us," and "I'm ashamed of my four [IDC] colleagues."
Sen. Tom Libous, responding to Adams for the Republicans, said: "I take offense at a lot of what you said," and claimed "We've given you more space than you gave us" two years ago when Democrats took over the majority. "I resent the racist remarks," Libous said.
In what may be a sign of the burgeoning alliance between the Democratic Cuomo administration and the Republican-controlled Senate, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, who was chairing the proceedings, sided with the GOP majority on the point of order. Whispering him advice was Jack Casey, Joe Bruno's onetime Senate parliamentarian and Rensselaer County Republican leader
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