“It is Music to Some People’s Ears and Painful to Others” is the title of yesterday’s post from Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. who has both endorsed East Bronx Senator Jeff Klein, who faces a primary challenge from former Councilman Oliver Koppell, as well as been critical of the Senator’s Independent Democratic Conference, which is what the letter is about.
(In unrelated news (or is it related?) Senator Greg Ball, who represents Northern Westchester and Putnam County communities that happen to be home to many Bronx ex-pats, happens to be rumored to be giving up his seat and moving out of state, enabling the strong potential for the Senate Democrats to gain another seat that was heretofore held by a powerful incumbent who happened to be Republican.)
Here’s is Senator Diaz’s current thoughts as put out officaially in a Senate website press release:
“You should know that there is a strong rumor going around that because of the mounting pressure on Senator Jeff Klein and his fellow Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) Members – Senators Diane Savino, David Carlucci, David Valesky and Tony Avella – it might be possible for the New York State Senate Democrats to be united once again.
As you know, this is an election year for every single State Senator and Assemblymember. Every seat is up for re-election. It has already been made official that former New York City Councilman and Former State Attorney General Oliver Koppell is challenging Senator Jeff Klein for his seat in the 34th Senatorial District.
You should know that for the last few years, Senator Jeff Klein and his fellow IDC Members – Senators Diane Savino, David Carlucci, David Valesky and Tony Avella – formed an alliance with the Senate Republicans, sharing the power and resources, and keeping the Republicans in control of the Senate.
Rumor has it that something’s in the works where Senator Jeff Klein and the IDC will make a switch and form the same alliance with the Regular Senate Democratic Conference as they have been doing with the Senate Republican Conference. Wow!
If the rumor is true – and I have to let you know that this rumor is getting stronger every day – that means that Senator Jeff Klein will not be joining the Senate Democratic Conference, but will be merging the IDC and the Regular Democratic Conference. This power shift will keep a Democratic Majority in the Senate where the Democrats will control the State Senate, and a power-sharing alliance will exist between the Regular Senate Democratic Conference and the IDC.
If this is so and this ever happens, then Republican Leader Senator Dean Skelos and his fellow Republicans will lose their strength, and Democratic Leader Senator Andrew Stewart Cousins and the Regular Democratic conference will gain power. The IDC members will keep their status, and Senator Jeff Klein – their leader – will not only keep his status as Leader, but will have even MORE power.
My dear reader, a situation like this is a “win-win” for Senator Jeff Klein and his fellow IDC Members: Senators Diane Savino, David Carlucci, David Valesky and Tony Avella.
If it never happens, Senator Jeff Klein will remain as Leader of the IDC and stay as powerful as ever and continue to share power with the Senate Republicans. If it happens that Senator Jeff Klein cuts ties with the Republican Conference, Senator Jeff Klein will still keep his power.
It seems to me that if this rumor becomes a reality, Senator Jeff Klein and his fellow IDC Members have nothing to lose and everything to gain, because all of the threats against the IDC will finally stop.
This rumor (and I repeat, it is only a rumor) is music to many people’s ears, and it is painful for others to hear.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sure you will agree with me that this is an enviable position for Senator Jeff Klein and his fellow IDC Members.
This is New York State Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.”
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