"It is disgraceful that Senate Republicans have chosen to put politics in front of the responsibility they have to New Yokers by blatantly disregarding the rules and procedures of the Senate to maintain Dean Skelos in power. The motion put forth today by the Senate Democratic Conference was intended to remove Mr. Skelos from his position in an effort to avoid delaying or obstructing the business of governing any further.
Earlier this year, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver did the right thing and relinquished his leadership position after being indicted. In June 2008, then Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno also did the right thing and stepped down after being indicted. Their examples should be a lesson to Senator Skelos: while everyone is innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law, our great legislative body cannot function properly under these clouds of suspicion. For the good of the New York State Senate and the people we all represent, Senator Skelos should follow the lead of his predecessor and Speaker Silver and relinquish his seat as Senate Majority leader immediately. If not, the Senate Republican Conference has an obligation to replace him.
We simply cannot continue to allow our government to be disrupted by scandals"
Editors Note:
We must remind State Senator Rivera about the charges that were levied against Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and then Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie of Election fraud in the 2013 Special Election for the 86th Assembly District that somehow disappeared.
We are reminded of former 86th Assemblyman Nelson Castro who also had election fraud charges levied him by an opponent, and who was allowed to win the primary and then go on to win two more primaries and general elections as he was a cooperating witness for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Bronx DA Johnson admitted to me that maybe the Castro event was the wrong thing to do.
Can you hear me State Senator Gustavo Rivera.
One never knows in politics, does one?
