Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NY Democrats float plan to fix Senate schism

File photo

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — There's a new proposal to heal the schism dividing Democrats in the New York state Senate — one that could potentially give Democrats control of the chamber.

Democrats now have a one-seat Senate majority, but they aren't in charge because the eight-member Independent Democratic Conference broke with mainline Democrats to give control of the Senate to Republicans.

State Democratic Party leaders on Monday floated a proposal to allow the leaders of both sides to share power as co-leaders.

Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the mainline Democratic leader, said her side is willing to agree to the proposal.

Sen. Jeff Klein, the leader of the independent Democrats, called it an "exciting development" and expressed support, provided both sides agree on several policy initiatives.

Democrats already hold the governor's office and control the Assembly.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.